Table 2.

Comparison of adherence, CPAP parameters, healthcare time, and overall costs between both groups.

	UC group (n = 58)	TM group (n = 57)	Mean difference [95% CI], p-value
Adherence
Mean daily use of CPAP (min)
Over the course of the first 3 months	262 [220; 305] (n = 50)*	288 [257; 319] (n = 51)*	−25 [−77; 26], p = 0.34
Over the course of the first 12 months	279 [237; 321] (n = 38)*	279 [247; 311] (n = 43)*	0 [−52; 52], 0.99
Proportion of patients discontinuing CPAP (n, %)
At 3 months	8 (14%)	6 (11%)	p = 0.59
At 12 months	20 (34%)	14 (25%)	p = 0.24
CPAP parameters at 1 year
CPAP pressure (cmH2O)	11.4 [10.7; 12.1]	11.0 [10.4; 11.6]	0.4 [−0.5; 1.3], p = 0.35
Residual AHI (events/h)	1.8 [1.0; 2.5]	1.7 [1.3; 2.1]	0.1 [−0.7; 0.9], p = 0.78
Leaks at 95th percentile (L/min)	26 [20; 32]	24 [20; 27]	2 [−4; 8], p = 0.50
Healthcare time
Total consultation time (min)	163 [147; 178]	178 [159; 197]	−15 [−39; 9], p = 0.22
Administrative time (min)	50 [45; 57]	56 [50; 62]	−5 [−14; 3], p = 0.23
Airview management time (min)	NA	22 [19; 25]	NA
Education-management time (min)	112 [101; 123]	99 [88; 112]	12 [−4; 27], p = 0.13
Mean time per consultation (min)	33 [31; 34]	29 [28; 31]	3 [1; 6], p = 0.004
Total consultation number (n)	5 [4.6; 5.5]	6.3 [5.6; 6.9]	−1.2 [−2.1; −0.4], p = 0.003
Face-to-face consultation number (n)	4.8 [4.4; 5.3]	3.2 [2.9; 3.6]	1.6 [1.0; 2.2], p <0.001
Average cost (CHF) per patient
Total	285 [259; 312]	248 [222; 274]	37 [0; 73], p = 0.047
Sleep care givers salary	136 [123; 149]	148 [132; 164]	−12 [−33; 8], p = 0.22
Office room rental	121 [123; 149]	81 [71; 90]	40 [25; 55], p <0.001
Public transportation	29 [26; 32]	19 [17; 22]	10 [6; 13], p <0.001

Data are displayed as means [95% CI] or proportions. Unpaired T-test or Chi-squared tests were performed.

NA, not applicable; AHI, apnoea–hypopnoea index; TM, telemedicine; UC, usual care.

^*The mean daily CPAP use is presented for patients still staying on follow-up visits at 3 or 12 months.