CPAP

Medical abbreviation · Respiratory

CPAP stands for Continuous positive airway pressure, a respiratory abbreviation.

Therapy that delivers a constant stream of pressurized air through a nasal, nasal-pillow or full-face mask, splinting the upper airway open during sleep. It is the first-line treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and is also used for premature newborns and acute pulmonary edema.

Example: CPAP 9 cm H2O with heated humidifier; residual AHI 1.8 on download.

Usage notes

Australian physician Colin Sullivan described nasal CPAP for sleep apnea in 1981. Typical pressures range from about 4 to 20 cm H2O. Regular use reduces snoring, sleepiness and blood pressure, but long-term adherence is a common challenge. A 2021 recall of millions of Philips machines over degrading sound-abatement foam drew wide attention. Pronounced "SEE-pap."

Related abbreviations

More respiratory abbreviations

• BOOP – Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
• BPD – Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• CAP – Community-acquired pneumonia
• CF – Cystic fibrosis
• COP – Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia
• COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CPET – Cardiopulmonary exercise test
• CPT – Chest physiotherapy
• CSA – Central sleep apnea
• CSR – Cheyne-Stokes respiration
• CTEPH – Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
• DIB – Difficulty in breathing

See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.