Publication: The utility of CPAP in the tropics: a preliminary investigation

Bajema, Anna, Swinbourne, Anne, Gray, Marion, and Leicht, Anthony S. (2015) The utility of CPAP in the tropics: a preliminary investigation. Annals of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, 16 (2). p. 6.

http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46024/

Abstract

Background/Aims: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) provides assistance to patients with a range of respiratory illnesses. However, little research has investigated CPAP use in tropical environments. This preliminary study investigated the utility of a novel CPAP device during common activities within tropical conditions.

Methods: Sixteen healthy participants completed six everyday activities (e.g. dressing, hanging towels, treadmill walking) with and without a CPAP device within a tropical/hot-humid environment (31.0 ± 0.5°C, 71.0 ± 1.6% relative humidity). For each condition, the participant's perceptual and physiological responses to each task and recovery time were recorded. Comparisons between conditions were examined via repeated measures and one-way ANOVAs.

Results: Participants experienced similar perceptual responses (thermal comfort, thermal sensation and rating of effort) during all activities in both conditions (device use/non-use). In contrast, wearing the device increased heart rate (18%) and prevented the environmental-induced increase in body temperature (~0.2°C) during the dressing, hanging towels and treadmill walking activities.

Conclusion: Our preliminary findings demonstrated that use of a CPAP device in tropical conditions provided both beneficial and unfavorable physiological effects. Future studies will clarify the benefits of CPAP use in extreme environmental conditions for clinical populations that rely on CPAP use.