Helping older Veterans stick with PAP therapy for sleep apnea
Official title: Addressing insufficient positive airway pressure use among older Veterans with obstructive sleep apnea
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11193239 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers guided coaching and follow-up support to help older Veterans use their positive airway pressure (PAP) machines more regularly for obstructive sleep apnea.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003221-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193239 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans aged 65 or older with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea who have started PAP therapy but struggle to use it regularly.
✕Less likely to help
People without a PAP prescription, those who already use PAP consistently, or those with conditions that prevent participation (for example, severe cognitive impairment) may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would work with a trained "sleep coach" who uses a structured, manual-based program aimed at people 65 and older who already have a PAP device but are not using it enough. The program includes five sessions over eight weeks followed by monthly check-ins for up to six months, with coaches supervised remotely by a psychologist. The approach was pilot-tested and is designed so coaches from various disciplines can deliver it in different settings to make ongoing support easier to get.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase long-term PAP use, improving sleep, daily functioning, and health outcomes for older Veterans with OSA.
How similar studies have gone: Previous behavioral programs have helped people begin PAP use, and this intervention builds on pilot data, but methods specifically targeting sustained PAP use in older adults are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alessi, Cathy Ann — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Alessi, Cathy Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mechanisms of sex-specific responses to sleep apnea therapies
A research project at NYU School of Medicine is exploring how men and women may respond differently to treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and related heart risk.
-
Deep learning to predict obstruction site and guide sleep apnea treatment
A patient-focused project uses snoring sounds and AI to predict where your airway collapses during sleep and to guide personalized treatments.
-
Personalized DISE-guided surgery for sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome
A personalized surgical approach guided by DISE sleep-endoscopy is being tested to better treat sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome who don’t always improve after standard surgery.
-
Biomarkers to understand obstructive sleep apnea using microRNAs
A study at the University of Pennsylvania will look for microRNA signs in the blood that reflect how bad sleep apnea is and how well CPAP therapy works for patients.
-
Personalized sleep apnea care using genetics and biomarkers
A patient-friendly look at a research program aiming to tailor sleep apnea care using genetics, biomarkers, and brain/body signals to improve prediction and prevention.
-
Night-to-night sleep-disordered breathing differences in women and men
A study to find better biomarkers for sleep apnea severity, especially in women, by monitoring people at home for a week and tracking daily mood and energy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.