CPAP Titration Sleep Study

A CPAP titration sleep study is used to determine the ideal rate of airflow needed to treat a person with a sleep-disordered breathing disorder. This type of sleep study involves connecting a person to a CPAP machine while they spend the night in a sleep laboratory. While using a CPAP machine, the sleeper undergoes polysomnography, which is a standard overnight sleep study that measures various physical markers .

CPAP titration sleep studies generally follow specific steps to calibrate the appropriate rate of airflow to support breathing.

The CPAP machine is connected to the sleeper and turned on at a low air pressure rate.
As the person sleeps, the rate of airflow is increased in small increments.
When a rate successfully opens the person’s airway so they no longer have lapses in breathing, that number is chosen as the fixed rate for the sleeper’s CPAP machine.
If a person continues to have trouble sleeping while connected to the CPAP machine, humidity might be added to the CPAP air.
If a sleeper is still experiencing lapses in breathing at a high rate of air flow or is having trouble tolerating the CPAP therapy, they may be put on a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine. BiPAP is another type of sleep apnea treatment.
A CPAP titration sleep study is generally only needed for people who are being prescribed a CPAP machine that emits air at a fixed rate all night. Auto-titrating CPAP machines (APAPs) continually adjust based on the sleeper’s needs throughout the night and do not need to be calibrated by professionals.