We-PAP: A Couples-based Intervention for Sleep Apnea

Inclusion Criteria

Patient and partner inclusion criteria:

• Age >=50
• Access to cellular (active data plan) or Wi-Fi, in order to complete the telehealth intervention.

Patients inclusion criteria:

• Diagnosed with OSA (AHI>10 or AHI>5 with impairment) and intend to start PAP treatment
• PAP naïve or non-use of PAP for at least 3 years
• Married or cohabiting with a romantic partner for >1 year
• Able to read/write English.

Partner inclusion criteria:

• Able to read/write English
• PROMIS sleep disturbance score >55 in either patient or partner, or desire to improve sleep.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient only exclusion criteria:

• Concomitant OSA treatments (bariatric surgery planned in the next 3 months or bariatric surgery in the past year, ear nose and throat surgery for sleep apnea occurring in the 3 months before or planning for within the study period).

Exclusion criteria for both patient and partner include the following:

• High risk or presence of moderate to severe comorbid sleep disorders (i.e., restless legs syndrome)
• History of cognitive or neurological disorders (e.g., dementia, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis)
• Presence of major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), alcohol abuse reported on the Audit-C (score >4 for men, >3 for women), drug use (NIDA-Modified ASSIST score >3)
• Unstable or serious medical illness that would interfere with participation (cancer, renal disease on dialysis, moderate to severe COPD)
• Use of ASV, VPAP or supplemental oxygen
• Overnight work > 1x per month
• Pregnancy/ desire to become pregnant in the study period
• Current participation in behavioral sleep treatment (e.g., CBT-I) or completion of CBT-I in the past 3 years
• Concurrent participation in another clinical trial
• Caregiving for an infant < 2 years old or adult who requires overnight assistance.