Comparison of different inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) levels in a seated position in 20 participants
| IPAP: 15 cmH2O; EPAP 5 cmH2O; position: seated | IPAP: 20 cmH2O; EPAP 5 cmH2O; position: seated | IPAP: 25 cmH2O; EPAP 5 cmH2O; position: seated | F (df; df error) | p-value | |
| Oronasal mask: Hospital Fullface | |||||
| Pressure mmHg | 49.9±32.9 | 47.6±29.0 | 47.8±27.0 | 0.410 (1.4; 25.6) | 0.588 |
| Air-leak L·min−1 | 1.9±2.6 | 1.6±2.8 | 1.1±2.0 | 1.357 (2; 38) | 0.270 |
| VAS mm | 31.9±18.5 | 36.2±21.1 | 42.2±20.8# | 8.376 (2; 38) | 0.001 |
| Oronasal mask: Quattro Air | |||||
| Pressure mmHg | 62.3±28.9 | 61.7±30.2 | 62.3±28.6 | 0.380 (2; 38) | 0.963 |
| Air-leak L·min−1 | 1.4±1.9 | 2.0±2.6 | 1.8±2.4 | 1.008 (2; 38) | 0.375 |
| VAS mm | 18.8±10.4 | 22.9±13.6 | 27.1±15.5# | 7.167 (2; 38) | 0.002 |
| Oronasal mask: Comfort Gel | |||||
| Pressure mmHg | 90.4±44.9 | 91.9±42.4 | 91.8±41.5 | 0.180 (2; 38) | 0.836 |
| Air-leak L·min−1 | 1.4±2.1 | 0.8±1.2 | 1.3±2.2 | 1.124 (2; 38) | 0.336 |
| VAS mm | 41.5±21.9 | 44.8±22.0 | 50.5±23.0#,¶ | 8.474 (2; 38) | 0.001 |
| Nasal mask: Easy life | |||||
| Pressure mmHg | 50.9±29.0 | 54.5±31.8 | 56.5±32.4# | 8.976 (2; 38) | 0.001 |
| Air-leak L·min−1 | 0.7±1.6 | 0.6±1.4 | 0.8±1.9 | 0.164 (2; 38) | 0.850 |
| VAS mm | 22.9±20.0 | 25.7±21.8 | 26.1±18.4 | 1.001 (2; 38) | 0.377 |
Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. F (df; df error): F-ratio (degrees of freedom; degrees of freedom error); EPAP: expiratory positive airway pressure; VAS: visual analogue scale for comfort with 0 being most comfortable and 100 being least comfortable. 1 mmHg equals 1.36 cmH2O. #: p<0.05 compared with IPAP 15 cm H2O; ¶: p<0.05 compared with IPAP 20 cmH2O.