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.

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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.

Item ID:	46024
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1448-4706
Additional Information:	Presented at the Townsville Health Symposium, 7-9 October 2015, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2016 03:03
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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