While it often turns out the reason for stopping is not the most crucial factor of cessation and thus may play less of a role in the re-initiation, it is still worthwhile to consider why a person would stop PAP, says Barry Krakow, MD, via a blog for Classic Sleepcare.

Probably the two most clear-cut stoppages occur when patients suffer respiratory infections or when equipment issues compromise use in some way. Colds or coughs can make it nearly impossible to use the device, and ironically they both may worsen OSA/UARS and then the patient is left without use of the machine—a veritable double whammy. Equipment failures run from old mask cushions, hard to detect leaks in tubes or masks, pressure delivery errors, and overall machine malfunctions. Other inter-current illnesses can hinder efforts to use the device, for example, undergoing surgery or breaking a bone. Some will not or cannot easily travel with their devices.