APAP vs CPAP

What Is APAP Therapy?

APAP therapy uses an automatically adjusting positive airway pressure machine to treat obstructive sleep apnea. APAP devices may also be referred to as auto-titrating CPAP or auto-CPAP machines.

With APAP therapy, a person wears a mask connected to an APAP machine by flexible tubing. This machine must be plugged into an electrical outlet or connected to a battery and generally sits on a nightstand or bedside table. 

The APAP machine pumps pressurized air through the tube and into the mask, which can cover the nose or both the nose and mouth. This air helps keep the sleeper’s airway open, reducing the number of times their breathing is disrupted. 

“APAP therapy is a very successful treatment option for sleep apnea because it delivers personalized and accurate air pressure to promote adequate breathing during sleep. Compared to conventional CPAP therapy, it gives patients more comfort and flexibility.”

Dr. Anis Rehman

Internal Medicine Physician, MD

APAP machines use special technology to identify when a person snores or begins to experience a breathing disruption. Once it detects a change in breathing, the machine increases the air pressure to help keep the airway open. Similarly, the machine decreases the rate of pressure when it detects that a higher rate is no longer needed.

APAP Mask Options

APAP machines can be used with different types of masks. The most-commonly used masks cover the entire nose, fit over both the nose and mouth, or sit under the nostrils. A less-commonly used mask covers the entire face. The way a mask is strapped onto the head can also differ, with some mask straps offering ways of reducing contact with the face.

Sleep specialists may have a person try more than one mask option to identify which style works best. The ideal APAP mask is the one that fits the best and feels the most comfortable. If one mask causes discomfort or results in air leaks, another type of mask may be a better option.

Additional Features of an APAP

Like other types of PAP machines, APAP devices may come with additional features.

• Heated humidity: A PAP machine that provides heated humidity has a chamber that must be filled with water every day or two. Adding heated humidity to the air helps reduce dryness in the nose Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source , which can be especially useful in dry regions or during colder months. 
• Pressure relief: A pressure relief feature allows medical providers to set up PAP machines so they deliver air at a slightly lower pressure when a sleeper begins to breathe out. This can reduce the discomfort that some people feel when exhaling while using a PAP machine.
• Pressure ramp: Like pressure relief, a pressure ramp feature may also reduce discomfort. This feature lets a sleeper start their machine at a lower air pressure, then the machine increases the pressure over the next 5 to 45 minutes. This gradual increase can help a person fall asleep more easily.

How Is APAP Different From CPAP?

While APAP and CPAP machines are both types of PAP therapy used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, they differ in the levels of air pressure they release. CPAP releases air at a fixed rate, while APAP releases air at a rate that changes in response to the sleeper’s needs.

Technically, an APAP is a type of CPAP machine that includes technology allowing the machine to auto-adjust how much air it delivers at a given time. Traditional CPAP machines that do not contain this technology are sometimes referred to as fixed-level CPAP devices, because they deliver air at a fixed rate of pressure. In the past, fixed-level CPAP machines were most commonly prescribed, but in recent years, the use of APAP machines is increasing Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

Since APAP machines auto-adjust in response to a person’s breathing, the initial set-up can usually occur in a person’s home Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source , using the machine itself. By contrast, the initial set-up of a fixed-level CPAP machine requires either an overnight sleep study in a lab or the temporary use of an APAP machine at home. 

However, certain factors, such as suspected air leakages or the presence of other health problems, may require a person to have their APAP titration in a sleep lab rather than at home.

While some studies show that people tend to use an APAP machine longer each night Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source than they would a CPAP machine, more evidence is needed to determine which type of machine is more effective at reducing OSA symptoms. Current research suggests both types of PAP therapy are about equally effective.

Another type of PAP therapy sometimes prescribed to people with OSA is bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP). Doctors usually prescribe BiPAP only to people who have another sleep disorder or who have tried CPAP and APAP therapies but could not tolerate them.

Why Use an APAP Machine?

Using an APAP machine to treat obstructive sleep apnea may provide some advantages over other types of PAP therapy.

• In-home titration: While the set-up of BiPAP and fixed-level CPAP devices often requires an overnight stay in a sleep lab, an APAP device’s settings can be determined in a person’s home with the machine’s auto-adjusting feature. 
• Reduced average air pressure: Some people find it uncomfortable to breathe out against the constant pressure of a fixed-level CPAP. Compared to a CPAP, an APAP machine releases air at a lower average pressure throughout the night, making it easier to handle for some users.
• Adjusting to users’ needs: An APAP machine’s ability to automatically adjust air pressure could benefit a person as their needs change at different times. For example, drinking alcohol, gaining or losing weight, and changing sleep positions can all alter the pressure level a sleeper needs from their PAP machine.

Cons of APAP Therapy

Compared to other types of PAP therapy, there may be some disadvantages to using an APAP machine. For instance, APAP machines cost more on average than CPAP machines. The higher price can be a particular disadvantage if a person’s health insurance does not cover the full cost of their treatment. 

Although some people are sensitive to the fixed rate of air pressure from a CPAP machine, others may prefer it to the fluctuating rate of air pressure from an APAP machine. An APAP machine’s regular changes in air pressure during the night could cause brief sleep disruptions, which may lead to side effects.

APAP therapy may also cause the same side effects associated with other types of PAP therapy, including: 

• Stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Irritated eyes
• Chest discomfort
• Skin irritation from the mask
• Claustrophobia or feeling trapped

Most of these problems are minor and can be easily fixed Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source by trying a different mask type, cleaning the PAP machine, using a humidifier, or using nasal saltwater spray.

How to Get APAP or CPAP

APAP and CPAP machines are only available with a prescription from a doctor. If you are concerned about your nighttime breathing and think that you may have obstructive sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. Common OSA symptoms include:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping or stopping breathing while asleep
• Daytime tiredness
• Trouble focusing
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Reduced sexual interest
• Nighttime awakenings to urinate

If you use a CPAP machine and have difficulty tolerating the air pressure, you may want to talk to your doctor about switching to an APAP machine. Your medical provider can help you determine which OSA treatment is the best for you.