Safety of CPAP masks with magnets in patients with cardiac implanted devices.

PURPOSE: CPAP mask manufacturers warn of a potential risk of interference between the magnets used to secure the masks and Cardiac Implanted Devices (CIDs). This raises questions about the current safety of these masks in clinical practice. METHODS: A single-centre study was conducted at the CHU-UCL-Namur (Godinne) to assess the risk of interference associated with the use of CPAP masks with magnets in patients with pacemakers and defibrillators. The pulmonology and cardiology databases were cross-referenced to identify the patients currently concerned in our hospital. An analysis of the memory of CIDs since the introduction of the magnetic mask and a real-life test involving direct contact between the mask magnet and the CID were carried out under cardiological supervision. RESULTS: Eleven patients (10 males, 71.9±6.9 years; BMI: 30.9±5.2 kg/m2) were included: 5 with pacemakers, 6 with defibrillators. They had a mask in the context of CPAP (10) or BiPAP (1) therapy (mean device use 7h10±1h12 /day). During follow-up of normal use (median 22.54 months [IQR: 18.3–65.2]), no interference was observed in the device memory. However, direct and prolonged contact between the mask magnet and the device housing case induced asynchronous pacing in 4 out of 5 pacemakers and transient therapies deactivation in 2 out of 6 defibrillators. CONCLUSION: The use of masks without magnets is preferable in patients with CIDs. Nevertheless, considering the low risk observed in real-world conditions and the ergonomic advantages of these masks, these findings call into question their contraindication provided by manufacturers and support consideration of their use in selected cases.