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Covid- 19 and CPAP Therapy for Sleep Apnea: How to Safely Continue Treatment
If you are a CPAP user and have tested positive for Covid-19, there are a few additional precautions that you’ll need to take to continue treatment safely. CPAP therapy is an important part of managing sleep apnea for many people, and it’s crucial that you don’t stop using your machine just because you’ve been diagnosed with Covid-19.
In this article, which we’ve based on the latest advice from The Sleep Health Foundation, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about CPAP treatment and Covid-19 as well as outline the steps that you need to take in order to keep up your CPAP therapy while still following Covid-safe practices.
Can I continue using my CPAP machine if I have Covid-19?
Yes, you can continue using your CPAP machine if you have Covid-19. However, you will need to take a few additional precautions to keep yourself and others in your household safe. We’ll discuss these during the article.
Will using CPAP worsen my COVID-19 symptoms?
There’s no evidence that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment will make COVID-19 worse. Positive airway pressure therapies are frequently used in the management of severe lung infections and so continuing CPAP therapy for your sleep apnea poses no threat to your body’s response to COVID-19.
Is it possible for my CPAP use to pass on the coronavirus to others if I have it?
Yes, if precautions aren’t taken it is possible for CPAP use to transmit COVID-19 to others.
It’s important to understand how the COVID-19 virus is spread between people because there are two main ways of transmission.
Firstly, there’s airborne transmission where the virus is spread via contaminated droplets from an infected person’s lungs and airways through the air. Secondly, the virus can be transmitted by direct contact with COVID positive people and/or via contaminated objects or surfaces.
It’s in relation to airborne transmissions that CPAP use can increase the spread of the virus if the correct precautions aren’t taken. The air pressure from CPAP increases the production and spread of droplets from the mouth and nose and the resulting aerosolized particles can remain suspended in the air for an hour, sometimes more.
Additionally, if COVID-19 contaminated CPAP masks and tubing are touched, the virus can be spread. It’s known that the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces (such as plastic) for hours and even days.
If I use CPAP and have COVID-19 symptoms, what precautions should I take?
Adults or children with known or suspected COVID-19 must remain as isolated as possible from others, including while using their CPAP machine. Ideally, they should sleep in a separate bedroom with the door closed.
Sometimes a separate bedroom isn’t possible, and in this case, it’s recommended you talk to your doctor about alternative ways of managing your sleep apnea until you’ve recovered from the virus and/or are symptom-free.
It is possible to modify your CPAP settings and equipment to lower the risk to others, but this should only be done under the close guidance of your doctor or a sleep professional.
The importance of cleaning your CPAP machine after every use becomes even more important with COVID-19 and your bedroom surfaces need to be regularly disinfected also. Special attention should be paid to the housing of your CPAP machine and of course, remember to unplug it before wiping it down with a damp (not wet) cloth.
In line with The Sleep Health Foundation’s recommendations, the following cleaning protocols should be followed after each use of the machine to ensure your CPAP machine is as Covid-19 free as possible:
- clean the mask and tubing efficiently by disassembling the mask into its components (head straps, cushion, and frame) and initially washing all of these parts in warm, soapy water
- rinse thoroughly in warm water and then place them on a towel on a flat surface to dry. Avoid drying your CPAP equipment in direct sunlight.
- if you are using a humidifier, clean and dry the humidifier tub in the same way as above. Fill the tank with fresh (distilled is best) water when ready to use it next.
If I don't have COVID-19 symptoms, do I still need to take precautions when using CPAP?
It’s possible to be infected with COVID-19 and show few or no symptoms, especially in the first few days of catching it. If you suspect you’ve been exposed to the virus, it’s better to be cautious even if no symptoms are present. Moving to a separate bedroom and adopting the cleaning regime outlined above will help protect your sleeping partner from CPAP related droplet spread if you do end up testing positive. It may even be a good idea to take these precautions until the community’s spread of the virus is controlled.
What if I'm using non-invasive ventilatory support (BIPAP, VPAP, or other technologies) for my treatment?
The same precautions should be taken as with CPAP, although there are certain differences. Using a ventilator suggests you may have an increased breathing vulnerability to infections, so it’s critical to seek medical attention early about your issues if you’re using this type of device. Only stop using your equipment under the direction and supervision of your medical practitioner. It’s important to remain aware of the increased infection risk to others when you have a respiratory infection and rely on ventilator use.
If you have a disability requiring the assistance of carers and have suspected or confirmed COVID-19:
Follow the following precautions if you are managing a COVID-19 infection in the home and rely on carer support:
- Ensure the room is kept clean and all hard surfaces are regularly disinfected.
- The carer must use personal protective equipment including a surgical mask, special gloves and apron, and eye protection when supporting your needs and attending to you.
- The carer should keep the amount of time spent in your room to a bare minimum provided your safety isn’t compromised.
- Instead of them repeatedly entering the room, consider using a mobile phone to communicate with the carer.
- Don’t let others visit if it’s not essential.
We hope that this article provides some clarity and peace of mind for CPAP machine users who have recently been diagnosed with COVID-19. We know that it can be a worrying time and we want to assure you that CPAP therapy can continue safely with a few additional precautions. Of course, if you have any concerns or questions about using CPAP therapy in these COVID-19 times, our sleep professionals are on hand to help and can be contacted on 1800 717 566.
