Oxygen Concentrator vs. CPAP Machine

Key Takeaways

• People may sometimes confuse oxygen concentrators with CPAP machines, as they both deliver air to patients, but they are very different.
• Oxygen concentrators offer breathing support as prescribed for patients who have low blood oxygen levels or conditions like COPD, while CPAP is primarily used to treat sleep apnea.
• CPAP machines facilitate airflow, while oxygen concentrators perform an extra step to filter particles and pollutants to deliver purer oxygen.

What Is an Oxygen Concentrator?

Oxygen concentrators are devices that supply users with nearly pure oxygen by separating oxygen from other gasses in the surrounding air. Unlike oxygen tanks, oxygen concentrators never need to be refilled, as they take in ambient air. Oxygen concentrators are available in both portable and stationary units.

How Does an Oxygen Concentrator Work?

An oxygen concentrator is a machine that filters room air to remove particles like dust and allergens, to provide a continuous flow of clean air to patients who need oxygen therapy. The device brings the room air through sieve-like cylinders that absorb the nitrogen and other pollutants to create a more concentrated, purified oxygen (at least 90%). The patient then receives the concentrated oxygen to help improve their oxygen levels and breathing.

Who Should Use an Oxygen Concentrator?

People with conditions that reduce their blood oxygen levels may benefit from supplemental oxygen, which can be administered through an oxygen concentrator or an oxygen tank. Some of these conditions include:

• Asthma
• Flu
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• COVID-19
• Lung cancer

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What Is a CPAP Machine?

CPAP machines are primarily used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by intermittent pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. A CPAP machine works by delivering a continuous stream of air through a mask to keep the sleeper’s airway open, helping to normalize their breathing through the night.

For people with OSA, a CPAP machine can improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of health complications like excessive daytime tiredness, cardiovascular issues, and diabetes. By ensuring that a person’s airway remains open, CPAP machines can also significantly enhance a person’s daily functioning and overall well-being.

How Does a CPAP Machine Work?

CPAP machines work by delivering compressed air through a tube and into a mask that the patient wears over their nose and/or mouth. The constant airflow delivery during inspiration and expiration (breath in, breath out) helps keep patients’ airways open to prevent hypopneas and apneas (slow, shallow, or paused breathing), during sleep.

Who Should Use a CPAP Machine?

CPAP machines are primarily used to treat sleep-related breathing conditions. Doctors may prescribe a CPAP machine for several types of sleep-related breathing disorders, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea (CSA)

Doctors may also also prescribe a CPAP machine or similar device for people who have other medical conditions that affect breathing, such as:

• COPD
• Heart failure
• Respiratory failure

A CPAP machine is one type of positive airway pressure (PAP) device used to keep a person’s airway open as they sleep. Other PAP devices that may be prescribed instead of a CPAP machine include bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP or BiPAP) and automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) machines.

What Are the Differences Between an Oxygen Concentrator and a CPAP Machine?

The main difference is function: Oxygen concentrators provide oxygen-enriched air to supplement people who have low blood oxygen levels, while CPAP machines deliver pressurized air to treat sleep apnea and other conditions that cause a person’s airway to narrow or collapse during sleep.

The machines also deliver air differently. A CPAP simply compresses air and delivers it in a steady flow through a tube into a CPAP mask, whereas an oxygen concentrator first filters out particles, nitrogen, and dust to deliver a more purified oxygen through a nasal cannula or, sometimes, a mask.

Lastly, CPAP machines are used during sleep, while oxygen concentrators can be used as much as 15 hours per day or more, depending on the doctor’s prescription.

Will Insurance Cover the Cost of These Devices?

Health insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, often provide coverage for CPAP machines and oxygen concentrators. However, people must demonstrate medical necessity through tests or doctor’s recommendations and may be required to show that they use their device consistently to maintain coverage.

Can an FSA or HSA Be Used to Buy Either Device?

Both flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts can be used to purchase these devices, as CPAP machines and oxygen concentrators are considered medical equipment. However, it’s important to verify coverage with the administrator of your FSA or HSA.

Frequently Asked Questions