NEWS Coronavirus News Study: CPAP Therapy May Help Treat Early-Stage COVID-19 By Amy Isler, RN, MSN, CSN Amy Isler, RN, MSN, CSN LinkedIn Amy Isler, RN, MSN, CSN, is a registered nurse with over six years of patient experience. She is a credentialed school nurse in California. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 08, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print Wanderluster / Getty Images Key Takeaways CPAP use during early hospital admission can help decrease disease progression and respiratory failure in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Researchers have established ways to safely modify CPAP machines for patients to use as ventilators, decreasing the number of patients that end up needing mechanical ventilation. According to a study out of the U.K., Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is emerging as a lifesaving device for those in the early stages of COVID-19. Researchers from Lancaster University found that in 206 patients seeking care at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, England, when CPAP treatment was initiated within four days of hospital admission, survival probability increased to over 73%. Despite this being a pilot study with a small sample size, it shows CPAP machines can make a significant impact when it comes to reducing the severity of COVID-19. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Might Make COVID-19 Worse, Study Finds “CPAP acts like an air compressor that uses pressure to help keep the airway open and can assist with air exchange,” Michelle Cao, MD, a pulmonologist and sleep specialist with Stanford Health Care in California, who was not involved in the study, tells Verywell. “I would love to see more studies like this, especially during this next COVID-19 surge. During a ventilator shortage, CPAP could be a good bridge to help with breathing.” How Can CPAP Help With COVID-19? According to the study, during the early phases of the pandemic, when medical professionals were still trying to figure out how to treat COVID-19 patients, early intubation and mechanical ventilation were used for patients experiencing respiratory failure. With time, doctors discovered that ventilation was associated with poor outcomes, so they considered non-invasive ventilation, including CPAP, as an alternative to early intubation. To test the efficacy of CPAC machines in COVID-19 treatment, a team of researchers at New York’s Tandon School of Engineering were able to use readily available materials, such as microbial filtration, to modify the way the machines function. Essentially, they trapped the virus and prevented air contamination. Researchers found that if used during the early days of hospital admission, CPAP machines can help treat initial stages of respiratory failure, and decrease the number of people requiring the use of a mechanical ventilator. COVID-19 Treatments: Medications, Plasma, and Vaccines The low cost of a CPAP machine compared to a mechanical ventilator also makes it a welcome alternative for hospital systems. Because they are non-invasive and are already available in the majority of hospitals, the use of CPAP machines could help decrease the burden for many healthcare facilities in less developed countries. What Is a CPAP Machine? A CPAP machine is designed to use positive airway pressure to keep the airway open during sleep reducing instances of sleep apnea events and snoring while improving respiration. According to the Sleep Foundation, CPAP is most commonly prescribed to people with obstructive sleep apnea. Users wear a face mask and receive pressurized air from a connected hose. It is considered the gold standard treatment for those diagnosed with sleep disorders. Risks of Using CPAP on COVID-19 Patients Researchers from Lancaster University pointed out that study results showed that CPAP use in patients with a longer hospital stay, which was defined as seven or more days, was associated with an increased risk of death. This is because of disease progression leading to more advanced respiratory failure, which is not treatable via CPAP machine. “One risk of CPAP use in COVID-19 positive patients is providers not recognizing how fast patients can decompensate,” Cao says. “Providers need to be ready for clinical deterioration.” What Is CPAP? Learn How Therapy Treats Sleep Apnea With Air Pressure Temple Health states that CPAP use at home can initiate the spread of the coronavirus through droplets from leaks around the mask, or from the exhalation port. It is important to isolate yourself from others if you do become infected, but don’t discontinue CPAP treatment. Donating CPAP Machines for Hospital Use Survivors for Good, a California non-profit corporation, established the Ventilator SOS project, which helps supply hospitals with donated CPAP machines along with the necessary equipment to modify them into special-use ventilators during the pandemic. If you would like to donate a CPAP machine or are associated with a hospital that needs them, you can check out their website for more information. CPAP Cleaning Tips: A Step-By-Step Maintenance Guide The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ashish A, Unsworth A, Martindale J, Sundar R, Kavuri K, Sedda L, Farrier M. CPAP management of COVID-19 respiratory failure: a first quantitative analysis from an inpatient service evaluation. BMJ Open Respiratory Research. 2020;7:e000692. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000692 Melillo G. Researchers Modify Sleep Apnea Machines to Ease Ventilator Shortage. The American Journal of Managed Care. SleepFoundation.org. Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Temple Health. Q&A: How to Manage Sleep Apnea During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Survivors for Good. Survivors For Good-Empowering Growth, Solutions & Resiliency.