Published online Feb 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i5.942
Peer-review started: November 2, 2023
First decision: December 5, 2023
Revised: December 14, 2023
Accepted: January 23, 2024
Article in press: January 23, 2024
Published online: February 16, 2024
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is primarily caused by airway obstruction due to narrowing and blockage in the nasal and nasopha
To investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of a mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating moderate OSAHS.
We selected 50 patients diagnosed with moderate OSAHS in our hospital between July 2022 and August 2023. They underwent a 4-wk treatment regimen involving the mid-frequency anti-snoring device during nighttime sleep. Following the treatment, we monitored and assessed the sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores. Additionally, we performed computed tomo
Compared to pretreatment measurements, patients exhibited a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index, the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90%, snoring frequency, and the duration of the most prolonged apnea event. The lowest oxygen saturation showed a notable increase, and both sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved. Oropharyngeal computed tomography scans revealed that in OSAHS patients cross-sectional areas of the oropharyngeal airway in the soft palate posterior area and retrolingual area decreased during snoring compared to the awake state. Conversely, during mid-frequency anti-snoring device treatment, these areas increased compared to snoring.
The mid-frequency anti-snoring device demonstrates the potential to enhance various sleep parameters in patients with moderate OSAHS, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing daytime sleepiness. These therapeutic effects are attributed to the device’s ability to ameliorate the narrowing of the oropharynx in OSAHS patients.
Core Tip: We investigated the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of a mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating 50 moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome patients for 4 wk. Our results indicated significant improvements in the apnea-hypopnea index, the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90%, and the sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores. Additionally, we found compelling evidence that the mid-frequency anti-snoring device positively influenced the narrowing of the oropharynx in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome patients during snoring.