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Summary: Very low energy diets (VLED) appear to be the most efficacious dietary‐based obesity reduction treatments in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, effective weight loss maintenance strategies remain untested in this condition. Our study aimed to assess the feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of two common maintenance diets during a 10‐month follow‐up period after rapid weight loss using a 2‐month VLED. In this two‐arm, single‐centre, open‐label pilot trial, obese adult OSA patients received a 2‐month VLED before being allocated to either the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating diet (AGHE) or a low glycaemic index high‐protein diet (LGHP). Outcomes were measured at 0, 2 and 12 months. We recruited 44 patients [113.1 ± 19.5 kg, body mass index (BMI): 37.2 ± 5.6 kg m−2, 49.3 ± 9.2 years, 12 females]. Twenty‐four patients were on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mandibular advancement splint (MAS) therapy for OSA. Forty‐two patients completed the VLED. The primary outcome of waist circumference was reduced by 10.6 cm at 2 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.2–12.1], and patients lost 12.9 kg in total weight (95% CI: 11.2–14.6). There were small but statistically significant regains in waist circumference between 2 and 12 months [AGHE = 3.5 cm (1.3–5.6) and LGHP = 2.8 cm (0.6–5.0]. Other outcomes followed a similar pattern of change. After weight loss with a 2‐month VLED in obese patients with OSA, a structured weight loss maintenance programme incorporating commonly used diets was feasible, tolerable and efficacious for 10 months. This programme may be deployed easily within sleep clinics; however, future research should first test its translation within general clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Previous studies showed that severe SDB has a negative impact on myocardial salvage and progression of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study investigated the frequency of SDB and the effects of SDB on left ventricular function after AMI. This retrospective study enrolled all patients with AMI who had undergone cardiorespiratory polygraphy for SDB diagnosis. The apnea-hypopnea index was used as a standard metric of SDB severity. SDB was classified as mild (apnea-hypopnea index >5 to <15 per h), moderate (≥15 to <30 per h) or severe (apnea-hypopnea index ≥30 per h). According to the majority of events, SDB was classified as predominant obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea or mixed sleep apnea (mixed SDB). A total of 223 patients with AMI (112 with ST elevation and 111 without ST elevation; 63.2 ± 11.2 years, 82% male, left ventricular ejection fraction 49 ± 12%) were enrolled. SDB was present in 85.6%, and was moderate-to-severe in 63.2%; 40.8% had obstructive sleep apnea, 41.7% had central sleep apnea and 3.1% had mixed SDB. Left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in patients with AMI with severe SDB (45 ± 14%) versus those without SDB (57 ± 7%; P < 0.005). In addition, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (≤45%) was associated with increased frequency (apnea-hypopnea index ≥5 per h in 96%) and severity (apnea-hypopnea index ≥30 per h in 48%) of SDB in general and a higher percentage of central sleep apnea (57%) in particular. SDB is highly frequent in patients with AMI. SDB severity appeared to be linked to impaired left ventricular function, especially in patients with central sleep apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disorders are common non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Our study aims to explore the relationship between non-apnea sleep disorders and future Parkinson's disease. This is a cohort study using a nationwide database. The participants were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2003. A total of 91 273 adult patients who had non-apnea sleep disorders without pre-existing Parkinson's disease were enrolled. An age-, gender-, income-, urbanization- and Charlson comorbidity index score-matched control cohort consisting of 91 273 participants was selected for comparison. The two cohorts were followed for the occurrence of Parkinson's disease, death or until the end of 2010, whichever came first. The Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed patients with non-apnea sleep disorders tended to develop Parkinson's disease (log-rank test, P < 0.001). After a multivariate adjustment in a Cox regression model, non-apnea sleep disorders was an independent risk factor for the development of Parkinson's disease [crude hazard ratio: 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54-1.73, P < 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26, P < 0.001]. In the subgroup analysis, patients with chronic insomnia (lasting more than 3 months) had the greatest risk (crude hazard ratio: 2.91, 95% CI: 2.59-3.26, P < 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.21-1.55, P < 0.001). In conclusion, this study revealed that non-apnea sleep disorders, especially chronic insomnia, are associated with a higher risk for future Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although drugs with sedative properties may increase the risk of airway collapse during sleep, their acute effects on the apnea-hypopnea index in older adults are under-reported. We investigated the acute effects of gabapentin ( GABA) on sleep breathing in older men without sleep apnea. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over pilot study using a bedtime dose of gabapentin 300 mg was conducted in eight non-obese older men. Polysomnography measured the effects of the intervention. The apnea-hypopnea index was higher in the gabapentin arm than in the placebo arm (22.4 ± 6.1 versus 12.2 ± 4.3, P ≤ 0.05, d: 0.67), as was the oxygen desaturation index (20.6 ± 5.8 versus 10.8 ± 3.9, P ≤ 0.05, d: 0.68). The number needed to harm was four. A subset analysis demonstrated that differences in sleep respiratory parameters were present only during non-rapid eye movement sleep, as well as only in the supine position. No adverse events were reported. Hence, gabapentin worsened sleep breathing acutely compared with placebo. Long-term clinical trials are warranted to elucidate the clinical relevance of these findings for the safety profile of GABAergic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic illness with increasing prevalence. In addition to associated cardiovascular comorbidities, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has been linked to poor quality of life, occupational accidents, and motor vehicle crashes secondary to excessive daytime sleepiness. Although continuous positive airway pressure is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, its effects on quality of life are not well defined. In the current study we investigated the effects of treatment on quality of life using the data from the Apnea Positive Pressure Long-term Efficacy Study ( APPLES), a randomized controlled trial of continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP) versus sham CPAP. The Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index ( SAQLI) was used to assess quality of life. Overall we found no significant improvement in quality of life among sleep apnea patients after CPAP treatment. However, after stratifying by OSA severity, it was found that long-term improvement in quality of life might occur with the use of CPAP in people with severe and possibly moderate sleep apnea, and no demonstrable improvement in quality of life was noted among participants with mild obstructive sleep apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unknown to what extent chronic intermittent hypoxaemia in obstructive sleep apnea causes damage to the motor and sensory peripheral nerves. It was hypothesized that patients with obstructive sleep apnea would have bilaterally significantly impaired amplitudes of both motor and sensory peripheral nerve-evoked potentials of both lower and upper limbs. An observational study was conducted on 43 patients with obstructive sleep apnea confirmed by the whole-night polysomnography, and 40 controls to assess the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy. All obstructive sleep apnea subjects underwent standardized electroneurographic testing, with full assessment of amplitudes of evoked compound muscle action potentials, sensory neural action potentials, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, and distal motor and sensory latencies of the median, ulnar, peroneal and sural nerves, bilaterally. All nerve measurements were compared with reference values, as well as between the untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnea and control subjects. Averaged compound muscle action potential and sensory nerve action potential amplitudes were significantly reduced in the nerves of both upper and lower limbs in patients with obstructive sleep apnea compared with controls ( P < 0.001). These results confirmed that patients with obstructive sleep apnea had significantly lower amplitudes of evoked action potentials of both motor and sensory peripheral nerves. Clinical/subclinical axonal damage exists in patients with obstructive sleep apnea to a greater extent than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative care providers have been proposed as a substitute for physician-based management of obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical course of patients with a new diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure and followed by alternative care providers at a tertiary care sleep clinic. It was hypothesized that care by alternative care providers would result in improvement of daytime sleepiness and satisfactory treatment adherence, and that a specific number of follow-up visits could be identified after which clinical outcomes no longer improved. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was measured for each patient at baseline and at each alternative care provider visit. Patients were discharged when they demonstrated a significant improvement in sleepiness and were adherent to therapy. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale score decreased by 3.9 points from baseline to discharge. Patients with three or more visits required more follow-up time to achieve the same clinical improvement as those with only two visits. Continuous positive airway pressure adherence was comparable to previous studies of physician-led care and improved with ongoing alternative care provider follow-up. The current results suggest that clinical care by alternative care providers leads to continued improvements in sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are treated with continuous positive airway pressure, and that a minority of patients require longer follow-up to achieve a satisfactory clinical response to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China is scarce. We conducted a multi-centre, cross-sectional study involving 12 hospitals from six regional cities to investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to explore the association between obstructive sleep apnea and related risk factors, diabetic complications and comorbidities in China. Each hospital recruited at least 70 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to the endocrinology ward. A total of 880 participants were enrolled and administered overnight sleep monitoring with a portable monitor (ApneaLink™, ResMed, San Diego, CA, USA); other information was collected from medical charts and a standardized questionnaire. In this study, 60.0% (95% confidence interval: 56.8%, 63.2%) of hospitalized patients in China with type 2 diabetes mellitus had comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5). Only 1.5% (eight of 528) of the patients with both conditions had been diagnosed previously with obstructive sleep apnea. The prevalence of moderate-severe (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 30) was estimated to be 25.6% (22.7, 28.5%) and 10.3% (8.3, 12.4%), respectively. Age, sex, body mass index, snoring, reported breath-holding in sleep or gasping or choking arousal, sleepiness, diabetes duration, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular diseases history were correlated significantly with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. In China, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is high. Routine screening for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is an important, but often neglected, part of the management of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in interleukin ( IL)-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor levels in obstructive sleep apnea patients and assess the role of positive airway pressure treatment and obesity on these changes. A total of 309 newly diagnosed subjects with sleep apnea from the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort were referred for treatment and reassessed at a 2-year follow-up. Full treatment was defined objectively as use ≥4 h day−1 and ≥20 days month−1. At the 2-year follow-up, there were 177 full users, 44 partial users and 88 non-users. The mean change in biomarker levels from baseline to the 2-year follow-up was assessed in a primary model that included adjustment for baseline biomarker levels, baseline body mass index and change in body mass index, as well as after adjustment for numerous relevant covariates. No significant overall difference in IL-6 level change was found among full, partial and non-users. However, in severely obese patients (body mass index ≥35), a significant increase in IL-6 levels during the 2-year period was found in partial and non-users, compared to no change in full users. Results were attenuated in a smaller propensity score matched subsample, although similar trends were observed. No differences were found in soluble IL-6 receptor levels between full users and non-users, after adjustment for confounders. In conclusion, among untreated obese sleep apnea patients, IL-6 levels increase substantially during 2 years, while adherence to positive airway pressure treatment may prevent further increases in this inflammatory biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced upper airway muscle activity during sleep is a key contributor to obstructive sleep apnea pathogenesis. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation activates upper airway dilator muscles, including the genioglossus, and has the potential to reduce obstructive sleep apnea severity. The objective of this study was to examine the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a novel hypoglossal nerve stimulation system ( HGNS®; Apnex Medical, St Paul, MN, USA) in treating obstructive sleep apnea at 12 months following implantation. Thirty-one subjects (35% female, age 52.4 ± 9.4 years) with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and unable to tolerate positive airway pressure underwent surgical implantation and activation of the hypoglossal nerve stimulation system in a prospective single-arm interventional trial. Primary outcomes were changes in obstructive sleep apnea severity (apnea-hypopnea index, from in-laboratory polysomnogram) and sleep-related quality of life [Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire ( FOSQ)]. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation was used on 86 ± 16% of nights for 5.4 ± 1.4 h per night. There was a significant improvement ( P < 0.001) from baseline to 12 months in apnea-hypopnea index (45.4 ± 17.5 to 25.3 ± 20.6 events h−1) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire score (14.2 ± 2.0 to 17.0 ± 2.4), as well as other polysomnogram and symptom measures. Outcomes were stable compared with 6 months following implantation. Three serious device-related adverse events occurred: an infection requiring device removal; and two stimulation lead cuff dislodgements requiring replacement. There were no significant adverse events with onset later than 6 months following implantation. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation demonstrated favourable safety, feasibility and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA) is linked to an increased mortality rate. However, the severity of individual obstruction events is rarely considered quantitatively in clinical practice. We hypothesized that OSA with especially severe obstruction events would predispose a patient to greater health risks than OSA with a similar apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI), but lower severity of individual events. This hypothesis was tested in a follow-up (198.2 ± 24.7 months) of a population of 1068 men referred for ambulatory polygraphic recording due to suspected OSA. The recordings were analysed according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Furthermore, a novel obstruction severity parameter was determined; this was defined as the product of duration of the individual obstruction event and area of the related desaturation event. Patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP) were omitted. We identified 125 deceased patients from our original population and for 113 of these a matching alive patient with similar AHI, age, body mass index ( BMI), smoking habits and follow-up time could be found. The deceased patients with severe OSA (based on conventional AHI) showed higher obstruction severity values than their AHI-matched alive controls. Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis, obstruction severity was the only parameter which was related statistically significantly to mortality in the severe OSA category. Furthermore, 59% of all deceased patients and 83% of those who had severe OSA displayed higher obstruction severity than the AHI-matched alive counterparts. To conclude, the obstruction severity parameter provided valuable prognostic information supplementing AHI. The obstruction severity parameter might improve recognition of the patients with the highest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is associated independently with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with self-reported lack of exercise. We aimed to investigate the utility of the incremental shuttle walk test in routine clinical practice to monitor physical capacity of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and explore whether continuous positive airway pressure therapy alters exercise capacity. Participants with symptomatic moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome attending for a trial of continuous positive airway pressure therapy completed questionnaires assessing sleepiness and physical activity and underwent an incremental shuttle walk test. Subjects compliant or partially compliant with continuous positive airway pressure therapy underwent reassessment at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months post-initiation of therapy. Participants unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure therapy completed a single reassessment 6 months after their initial visit. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy resulted in an increased distance walked during the incremental shuttle walk test. Improvements in cardiovascular responses to exercise were identified. Compliant patients reported increased daily activity. The incremental shuttle walk test is a simple, reproducible and safe test that is responsive to continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Our findings support the use of the incremental shuttle walk test for monitoring the effects of continuous positive airway pressure treatment and may suggest its use in rehabilitation programmes designed to reduce obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the value of drug-induced sleep endoscopy ( DISE) using a custom-made simulation bite in maximal comfortable protrusion ( MCP) of the mandible, in the prediction of treatment outcome for obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA) with a mandibular advancement device ( MAD). Two hundred patients (74% male; age 46 ± 9 years; apnea-hypopnea index [ AHI] 19 ± 13 h−1 sleep; body mass index [ BMI] 27 ± 4 kg m−2) with sleep-disordered breathing underwent DISE with a simulation bite in MCP. One hundred and thirty-five patients with an established diagnosis of OSA commenced MAD treatment. The associations between the findings during DISE with simulation bite and treatment outcome were evaluated. Treatment response was defined as a reduction in AHI following MAD treatment of ≥ 50% compared to baseline. Overall MAD treatment response in the studied population was 69%. The results of this study demonstrated a statistically significant association between a positive effect of the simulation bite on the upper airway patency during DISE and treatment response with MAD ( P < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that the use of a simulation bite in maximal comfortable protrusion ( MCP) of the mandible, as used during DISE in patients with OSA, tends to be effective in predicting treatment response of MAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study profiles changes in self-reported daytime functioning during sleep restriction therapy ( SRT) for insomnia. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) captured point-in-time symptomatology to map the time-course of symptoms. We hypothesized a deterioration (week 1) followed by improvements at week 3 of therapy relative to baseline. Nine patients with psychophysiological insomnia completed the Daytime Insomnia Symptom Scale ( DISS) at rise-time, 12:00 hours, 18:00 hours and bedtime for 1 week before and 3 weeks during SRT. Four validated factors from the DISS were analyzed (alert cognition, positive mood, negative mood and sleepiness/fatigue) across 28 days yielding 17 170 data points. Factors evaluated week (baseline versus weeks 1 and 3) and time of day symptomatology. Insomnia Severity Index scores decreased significantly pre-to-post treatment (mean 18 versus 7). Reflecting acute effects of SRT, significant differences were found for all factors, except negative mood, between baseline and week 1 of SRT, suggesting adverse effects. By week 3, sleepiness/fatigue and negative mood decreased significantly compared to baseline, and positive mood showed a trend towards improvement ( P = 0.06). Sleepiness/fatigue displayed a significant week × time of day interaction, explained by a reduction in sleepiness/fatigue at every daytime assessment point (except bedtime, which remained high). A significant interaction for alert cognition was associated with reduction in alertness at bedtime by week 3 and an increase in alertness at rise-time, suggesting that SRT not only improves sleep, but moderates alertness and sleepiness in therapeutic ways. Initial SRT is associated with an increase in sleepiness/fatigue and a decrease in alert cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify pre-treatment and immediate early treatment factors predicting continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use during the first week of therapy, when the pattern of non-adherence is established. Four domains of potential predictors were examined: pre-treatment demographic and clinical factors, patients' perceived self-efficacy, treatment delivery (mask leak and bothering side effects) and immediate disease reduction (residual respiratory events and flow limitation). The Autoset™ Clinical System objectively documented daily CPAP use, mask leak, residual respiratory events and flow limitation. Ninety-one CPAP-naive patients with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea were followed for 1 week after treatment initiation. Mean CPAP daily use during the first week was 3.4 ± 2.7 h, with significantly lower use observed in black than non-black participants (2.7 versus 4.4 h, respectively, P = 0.002). Less intimacy with partners caused by CPAP was the only treatment side effect correlated with CPAP use ( r = −0.300, P = 0.025). Reduced CPAP use during the first week was associated simultaneously with being black, higher residual apnea-hypopnea index and the treatment side effect of less intimacy with partners. The three factors together accounted for 25.4% of the variance in the CPAP use ( R2 = 0.254, P < 0.01). These data suggest the need to assess the impact of CPAP on intimacy and troubleshooting aspects of the treatment that interfere with sexual relationships. Assessing the presence of residual respiratory events may be important in promoting CPAP adherence. The association of race and CPAP use needs to be explored further by including more socioeconomic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Side-effects directly due to the nasal mask are common in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) commencing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Recently, nasal pillows have been designed to overcome these issues. Limited evidence exists of the benefits and effectiveness of these devices. Twenty-one patients (19 male, 49 ± 10 years) with the established diagnosis of OSAS [apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI): 52 ± 22] and who had a successful CPAP titration were commenced on CPAP therapy (10 ± 2 cmH2O), and randomized to 4 weeks of a nasal pillow (P) and a standard nasal mask (M) in a crossover design. Outcome measures were objective compliance, AHI, quality of life, Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) and CPAP side-effects. There was no difference in compliance (M versus P: 5.1 ± 1.9 h versus 5.0 ± 1.7 h; P = 0.701) and AHI (2.6 ± 2.7 versus 3.0 ± 2.9; P = 0.509). Quality of life and ESS improved with CPAP, but there was no difference in the extent of improvement between both devices. Usage of nasal pillows resulted in less reported pressure on the face and more subjects found the nasal pillow the more comfortable device. However, there was no clear overall preference for either device at the end of the study (mask = 57%, pillow = 43%; P = 0.513). The applied CPAP pressure did not correlate with compliance, AHI and ESS. Furthermore, no differences in outcome parameters were noted comparing groups with CPAP pressure <10 and ≥10 cm HO. Nasal pillows are equally effective in CPAP therapy, but do not generally lead to improved compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), but side-effects are common. No validated self-rating scale measuring side-effects to CPAP treatment exists today. The aim was to develop the side-effects to CPAP treatment inventory (SECI), and investigate the validity and reliability of the instrument among patients with OSAS. SECI was developed on the basis of: (1) in-depth interviews with 23 patients; (2) examination of the scientific literature and (3) consensus agreement of a multi-professional expert panel. This yielded 15 different types of side-effects related to CPAP treatment. Each side-effect has three sub-questions (scales): perceived frequency (a) and magnitude (b) of the side-effect, as well as its perceived impact on CPAP use (c). A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. A total of 329 patients with OSAS with an average use of CPAP treatment for 39 months (2 weeks to 182 months) were recruited. Data were collected with SECI, and obtained from medical records (clinical variables and data related to CPAP treatment). Construct validity was confirmed with factor analysis (principal component analysis with orthogonal rotation). A logical two-factor solution, the device subscale and symptom subscale, emerged across all three scales. The symptom subscale describing physical and psychological side-effects and the device subscale described mask and device-related side-effects. Internal consistency reliability of the three scales was good (Cronbach's α = 0.74-0.86) and acceptable for the subscales (Cronbach's α = 0.62-0.86). The satisfactory measurement properties of this new instrument are promising and indicate that SECI can be used to measure side-effects to CPAP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various types of mandibular protrusive appliances have revealed different treatment success in mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The present study compared the long-term effect of two different appliances in the treatment of OSA. A total of 103 patients with OSA were randomized and treated with an IST® or Thornton Anterior Positioner (TAP™) appliance. They were followed-up after a short-term treatment period of 6 months and long-term treatment period of over 24 months. Sleep studies in the sleep laboratory were conducted with and without the appliances, and various questionnaires assessing subjective daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, quality of life and symptom scores were administered at each time interval. Quality of life, sleep quality, sleepiness, symptoms and sleep outcome showed significant improvement in the short-term evaluation with both appliances, but the TAP™ appliance revealed a significantly greater effect. After more than 2 years of treatment, sleep outcomes revealed an equal effect with both appliances. The subjective benefits achieved initially lessened significantly. This study illustrates that both the IST® and the TAP™ appliances are effective therapeutic devices for OSA after a period of over 24 months. Lack of compliance may be due to insufficient improvement in anticipated subjective symptoms and/or a recurrence of symptoms over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryAmong patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), impairment of cognitive function, i.e. deficits in memory, attention, and visuconstructive abilities are common. We applied different forms of treatment for patients with newly diagnosed OSAS in a randomized study with a one-year follow-up. Patients with BMI > 40 kg/m2 were excluded. After the initial diagnostic work-up, male patients were considered to be candidates for either nasal continuous airway pressure (nCPAP) (27 patients) or surgical treatment (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with or without mandibular osteotomy) (23 patients). Within the groups, the patients were then randomized to active treatment (nCPAP/surgery) or to conservative management. Cognitive function and severity of OSAS were assessed prior to treatment and 3 and 12 months later. At 12 months, all patients on nCPAP had a normal ODI4 index (< 10), and were significantly less somnolent than their controls; 3/11 of the surgically treated patients had a normal ODI4 index. Daytime somnolence was significantly less severe in the surgically treated patients than in their controls. Cognitive function did not correlate importantly with daytime sleepiness or severity of OSAS; the best Pearson pairwise correlation coefficient was between ODI4 and the Bourdon-Wiersma (r=0.36). Success in treatment of OSAS did not affect neuropsychological outcome. We concluded that the standard cognitive test battery is insufficiently sensitive to identify positive changes in patients with OSAS, especially among those with a high level of overall mental functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]