Royal Philips has launched the DreamMapper application and website in the UK, which is designed to assist people living with sleep apnoea to improve treatment adherence by providing tools and real time tracking and analysis of their positive airway pressure therapy.
DreamMapper works as part of the Philips Dream portfolio which includes DreamStation, a sleep therapy system, and DreamWear, a minimal contact nasal mask. This system uses patient-designed therapy devices and the latest in data mobilisation technology to help people best manage their sleep apnoea.
David Dawson (Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK) comments: “Our sleep clinics are becoming busier and busier. Different clinical groups have realised that untreated obstructive sleep apnoea may be the cause of their patients’ symptoms. Surprisingly it has taken some time for our cardiology colleagues to investigate obstructive sleep apnoea as a contributory factor in patients with arrhythmias and heart failure.”
He continues: “There is every reason why patients with cardiovascular problems should be screened for obstructive sleep apnoea. If we can control obstructive sleep apnoea we will be able to reduce the impact on the heart. The transplant free mortality rate in heart failure patients with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea is dramatically worse than those without it. The sooner we treat these patients the better the chance of avoiding further damage.”
DreamMapper is now available in the UK for Android and Apple smartphones, tablets and desktop systems. It is designed to quickly correlate and analyse data on therapy usage, mask fit and apnoea hypopnea index readings to help improve treatment success, as well as helping users set and achieve personal therapy goals. In addition to providing continuous therapy analysis, the platform also provides troubleshooting support, conveniently supplying users with instructional videos that address a variety of potential therapy challenges. In turn this has the potential to reduce NHS clinician contact time, freeing up hours away from more administrative therapy enquiries.
DreamMapper also provides motivation enhancement therapy coaching tools, intended to inspire users and encourage adherence. Bernadette Coleman from Philips notes: “Global statistics have shown that DreamMapper can improve sleep therapy adherence by 22%.”
