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Fixed CPAP at 10 cmH2O May Replace Manual Titration in Moderate to Severe OSA Patients: A Preliminary Randomised Controlled Trial
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August 2025
Authors: Lu Wang, Yan Chen, Qishan Wei, Yingxin Wu, Cuizhen Huang, Shanfeng Liang, Joerg Steier, Peter Catcheside, Danny Eckert, Andrew Wellman, Yuanming Luo
Comment by Mark Lavercombe: In this pilot study, the authors attempted to identify an upper threshold of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy at which the patient remains comfortable and expiratory effort measured by diaphragm and transversus abdominus electromyography (EMG) is not increased. After determining that 10 cmH2O appeared most appropriate, twenty five patients for whom a manually titrated CPAP pressure requirement of less than 10 cmH2O then had two nights of CPAP in random order: one at their titrated pressure and one at a fixed 10 cmH2O. Across a range of polysomnographic metrics, no significant difference was seen between titrated pressure and 10 cmH2O. This interesting work will require further study in other cohorts, given the relatively low body mass index in the volunteer participants.
Medical Education Editor for Respirology
Dr Mark Lavercombe was appointed in this specialist editor role in 2021 to further expand and strengthen Respirology’s contribution to medical education.
Located in Melbourne, Australia, he works as a clinician in respiratory health and sleep disorders at Western Health and is affiliated with The University of Melbourne as a distinguished expert in medical education.
He became a member of our Editorial Board in 2016 with the responsibility of selecting new Respirology publications with educational value, which has grown into a curated article selection featured on this page, as a benefit to APSR members.
Dr Lavercombe also authors a column in Respirology on his most recent choices and their specific value to continued medical education for our readers around the world.
