Can the use of apap (automatic positive airway pressure) for the treatment of sleep apnea cause cheyne stokes respiration as a side effect (for example if the air pressure set by the machine is too high or too low)?

Cheyne-Stokes respirations does not usually occur as a side effect of APAP-it is usually due to some type of neurological disorder and it does not need to be treated. You should have a sleep study, if you haven;t already, to diagnose your sleep apnea and to determine the correct pressure for you. Then, that pressure can be set for you more precisely. Good luck!

Use of a C-PAP machine does not cause abnormal respiratory patterns, and it is unclear why your question has emerged. If you have true Cheyne-Stokes respiratory patterns, this is due to underlying metabolic or structural brainstem problems which would be categorized as a co-morbidity. Perhaps an overnight Sleep Study is needed to clarify this.