CPAP vs APAP vs BiPAP: Which Machine Do You Need?

Machines for sleep apnea all deliver air through a mask, but they do it in different ways. The prescription you receive after a sleep study will name one of three therapy types. This article explains what each one does, who it is usually prescribed for, and which models we stock in the UAE. The choice of therapy type and pressure settings is a clinical decision made by your doctor. Our role is to supply the right device and set it up to that prescription.

Fixed CPAP

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A fixed CPAP delivers one constant pressure all night, set by your clinician after a titration study. It is the simplest and most studied form of therapy and works well when your pressure needs are stable. Most modern machines sold in the UAE, including the ResMed AirSense range, can run in fixed CPAP mode even though they are also capable of auto-adjusting.

Auto CPAP (APAP)

An auto-adjusting machine measures airflow breath by breath and moves the pressure up when it detects airway narrowing, snoring or apneas, then eases it down again when breathing is stable. The clinician sets a minimum and maximum range. Most people find the lower average pressure more comfortable, and the machine copes with changes such as sleeping on your back, a blocked nose or weight change. Examples we supply: ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet, AirSense 10 AutoSet, Löwenstein prisma SMART, Resvent iBreeze 20A and, for travel, the ResMed AirMini.

Bilevel (BiPAP or VPAP)

A bilevel machine uses two pressures: a higher one while you breathe in (IPAP) and a lower one while you breathe out (EPAP). The drop on exhalation makes high pressures easier to tolerate and gives extra support to the breathing muscles. Clinicians prescribe bilevel therapy when CPAP pressures above roughly 15 cm H2O are needed, when a patient cannot tolerate exhaling against CPAP, or for conditions such as COPD, obesity hypoventilation or neuromuscular weakness. Bilevel devices come in several modes:

• VAuto or auto bilevel adjusts both pressures within a range while keeping the gap between them fixed. Examples: AirCurve 10 VAuto and AirCurve 11 VAuto.
• S (spontaneous) switches between the two pressures in time with your own breathing. Example: Löwenstein prisma25S.
• ST (spontaneous timed) adds a backup breathing rate that triggers a breath if you pause too long. Examples: AirCurve 10 ST, prisma25ST and Resvent iBreeze 30ST.
• Non-invasive ventilators such as the ResMed Lumis 100 and Lumis 150 add modes such as iVAPS that target a set level of ventilation for patients with respiratory insufficiency.

Quick comparison

What all three have in common

Every therapy type needs a mask that fits, humidification that suits the dry air-conditioned bedrooms common in the UAE, and regular filter and cushion replacement. See our mask fitting guide and compatibility center. Machines from ResMed, Löwenstein and Resvent all accept standard 22 mm tubing and masks, but travel devices and heated tubes are model-specific.

How to order the right one

Send us your sleep study report or prescription through the secure upload form. We confirm the therapy type and configure the pressure settings before delivery anywhere in the UAE, and provide setup guidance afterwards. For a side-by-side view of current models, use the CPAP and BiPAP comparison page.

This article is general information. Therapy type and settings must be decided by your treating physician.