Impact of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of OSA on Hospital Readmission in Hospitalized COPD Patients

Our investigators propose a randomized clinical trial to test hospitalized patients (due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) for obstructive sleep apnea, then randomizing the patients with OSA into CPAP versus usual care. This study is designed to target a high risk population (hospitalized patients) and early initiation of therapy. Our investigators intend to enroll all consenting participants hospitalized with a primary COPD diagnosis. Our study is unique and the answer to its question - whether early diagnosis of OSA and initiation of and adherence to CPAP therapy in hospitalized COPD patients will reduce 30-day readmission rates - is unknown. The objective is twofold: to improve quality of care and decrease preventable hospitalizations through early diagnosis and implementation of this early diagnosis and intervention model for this subset of patients may slow progression of COPD, offset a large public health and financial burden, and improve overall outcomes.

Our investigators believe that our study, which involves human subjects, is in accordance with general ethical principles. It should be noted that the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of OSA during hospitalization is not part of routine practice, and that the control group truly would follow "usual care". Moreover, patients who are deemed very sick (as outlined in the exclusion criteria) will be excluded from the study. Finally half of enrolled participants will receive early CPAP therapy which may potentially benefit those patients beyond what is currently "usual care".

Study Design

Our study is a single-center, randomized control trial designed to evaluate the impact of early diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in hospitalized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on hospital readmission, symptoms, and healthcare utilization. Consecutive patients who meet inclusion criteria hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of COPD will be asked to participate in the study. Patients who agree and sign consent will undergo a portable sleep study to diagnose OSA-predominant sleep disordered breathing. Patients will also complete a questionnaire packet consisting of the following standardized questionnaires: sleep history questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Patient Recorded Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Tool (CAT), and STOP-BANG questionnaire. Each patient who meets inclusion criteria and consents to the study will undergo an inpatient portable sleep study (ApneaLink, Resmed Corp). This is a Type III study which is an unattended study that measures nasal pressure, respiratory effort, oxygen saturation, and body position. A study investigator will apply the portable device, and a board-certified sleep medicine physician (co-investigators) will interpret these studies. The study will be performed while the patient is on room air (not on oxygen), thus the study may not be applied on the first hospitalized night (if oxygen therapy is required) but delayed until the patient is appropriate to be off oxygen.

A diagnosis of OSA will be made if the apnea-hypopnea index with 4% oxygen desaturation is greater than 5 (AHI4%≥5) with at least 50% of events consistent with obstructive rather than central physiology. Study participants with OSA will then be randomized into one of two pathways: Intervention Pathway and Usual Care Pathway.

Intervention Pathway Patients will receive CPAP therapy in the hospital followed by home CPAP therapy. A sleep center respiratory therapy/sleep technologist case manager will perform a bedside mask fit, CPAP education, and set up their outpatient follow-up appointments with the sleep center. Their home CPAP therapy will be a loaner from the sleep medicine department that includes wireless connectivity so that adherence data is available to the investigators throughout the duration of the study. Furthermore, the patients will be entered into our usual automated platform (USleep; ResMed Corp) in which patients with suboptimal CPAP use will be sent messages (email or text based on patient preference) in order to ensure adherence to therapy. This platform is already a standard part of our usual care.

The patients will receive CPAP in addition to the contemporary standard of care pharmacotherapy for their underlying cardiac condition(s). They will be asked to follow up at the Fontana Sleep Center within 1 month after discharge for assessment of CPAP use and asked to complete the aforementioned questionnaire packet (with the exception of the STOP BANG questionnaire). Patients will also be asked to follow up within 30 days after discharge for assessment of CPAP use and asked to complete the aforementioned questionnaire packet. Patients will be followed during the 30-day period and assessed for readmission rates, time to readmission, adherence to CPAP therapy, and presence of symptoms. During the 1 month follow-up appointment, the sleep center will troubleshoot CPAP use when appropriate; otherwise, requests for additional troubleshooting will be at the discretion of the patient (as is currently our usual care).

Usual Care Pathway Patients will receive contemporary standard of care pharmacotherapy for their underlying cardiac condition(s) and will not receive CPAP therapy for the duration of the study. They will be asked to follow up at the Fontana Sleep Center within 1 month after discharge for a repeat outpatient portable sleep study and asked to complete the aforementioned questionnaire packet (with the exception of the STOP BANG questionnaire). The results of the outpatient portable sleep studies will be compared with the in-patient portable sleep study. Patients will also be asked to follow up with the Fontana Sleep Center within 30 days after discharge for assessment of primary and secondary outcomes. Patients will be followed during the 30-day period and assessed for readmission rates, time to readmission, adherence to CPAP therapy, and presence of symptoms.