The SCOUTS (Stroke and CPAP Outcome Study 2) was a single-arm, open-label study performed at 2 IPR units of the University of Washington. Eligible stroke patients undergoing IPR were provided an intensive CPAP adherence protocol (iCAP) to increase tolerance and adherence to auto-titrating CPAP (APAP). The iCAP included patient education and encouragement, device adjustments, close monitoring of adherence and a 3-night run-in period of APAP to identify those patients who 1. have OSA and 2. have APAP tolerance-- defined as participant willingness to continue APAP during IPR and over the 3-month treatment period. If both criteria were met, APAP treatment with iCAP continued during the rehabilitation stay and over a 3-month period. The goal of the intervention was to achieve 50% of subjects meeting APAP adherence (an average ≥ 4 hours per night) over the 3-month treatment period. The investigators evaluated if demographic, co-morbid or stroke-specific factors predicted APAP adherence and assessed the relationship between APAP adherence and neurological recovery from stroke.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with impaired stroke recovery. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may prevent this but is limited by poor adherence. In this study, the investigators enrolled eligible stroke patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) into an intensive CPAP adherence protocol (iCAP) with an aim to increase tolerance and adherence to auto-titrating CPAP (APAP).