Daytime Neuromuscular Electrical Therapy of Tongue Muscles in Improving Snoring in Individuals with Primary Snoring and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Peter M Baptista,Marina Carrasco,Amro Hassaan,Bhik Kotecha,Secundino Fernandez,Paula Martínez Ruiz De Apodaca,Henry Zhang,Phui Yee Wong

doi:10.3390/jcm10091883

Abstract

Study Objectives: Evaluating daytime neuromuscular electrical training (NMES) of tongue muscles in individuals with Primary Snoring and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Methods: A multicenter prospective study was undertaken in patients with primary snoring and mild sleep apnea where daytime NMES (eXciteOSA® Signifier Medical Technologies Ltd., London W6 0LG, UK) was used for 20 min once daily for 6 weeks. Change in percentage time spent snoring was analyzed using a two-night sleep study before and after therapy. Participants and their bed partners completed sleep quality questionnaires: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the bed partners reported on the nighttime snoring using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: Of 125 patients recruited, 115 patients completed the trial. Ninety percent of the study population had some reduction in objective snoring with the mean reduction in the study population of 41% (p < 0.001). Bed partner-reported snoring reduced significantly by 39% (p < 0.001). ESS and total PSQI scores reduced significantly (p < 0.001) as well as bed partner PSQI (p = 0.017). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Daytime NMES (eXciteOSA®) is demonstrated to be effective at reducing objective and subjective snoring. It is associated with effective improvement in patient and bed partner sleep quality and patient daytime somnolence. Both objective and subjective measures demonstrated a consistent improvement. Daytime NMES was well tolerated and had minimal transient side effects.

Highlights

Introduction iationsSleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) encompasses a spectrum of disorders from PrimarySnoring (PS) to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and is characterized by the common pathophysiology process of repeated and recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep
It has been calculated that nearly one billion adults aged 30 to 69 are estimated to have OSA globally, with the majority (60%) with mild disease (Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥ 5 to
Bed partner-reported Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores showed a significant reduction in their perception change observed was sustained post stopping therapy, the average VAS for week 5/6 was of their partner’s snoring

Summary

Introduction

Snoring (PS) to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and is characterized by the common pathophysiology process of repeated and recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It has been calculated that nearly one billion adults aged 30 to 69 are estimated to have OSA globally, with the majority (60%) with mild disease (Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥ 5 to

Methods

Results

Conclusion