Diagnostic performance of cheeks appearance in sleep apnea

Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with altered tongue motion during wakefulness

PURPOSE

Impairment of genioglossus control is a frequent "non-anatomical" cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in non- or mildly obese patients. Although wake-related compensatory mechanisms prevent the occurrence of obstructive events, the genioglossus control is often impaired during wakefulness. We hypothesized that the lingual motion would be altered during wakefulness in this population in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS.

METHODS

We included non- or mildly obese participants with suspected OSAS. They underwent a Bucco-Linguo-Facial Motor Skills assessment using the MBLF ("Motricité Bucco-Linguo-Faciale"), which includes an evaluation of 13 movements of the tongue. This was followed by a night-attended polysomnography. We compared patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h; n = 15) to patients without or with mild OSAS (AHI < 15/h; n = 24).

RESULTS

MBLF total and "tongue" sub-scores were lower in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS: total z-score - 0.78 [- 1.31; 0.103] versus 0.20 [- 0.26; 0.31], p = 0.0011; "tongue" z-sub-score (- 0.63 [- 1.83; 0.41] versus 0.35 [0.26; 0.48], p = 0.014). There was a significant age-adjusted correlation between the "tongue" sub-score and AHI. The logistic regression model for the prediction of moderate-to-severe OSAS gave area under the curve ratio of 88.2% for MBLF score plus age.

CONCLUSIONS

Myofunctional activity of the tongue is impaired during wakefulness in non- or mildly obese patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS. This study supports the lingual myofunctional assessment using the MBLF in screening of moderate-to-severe OSAS. This simple tool could help clinicians to select patients with suspected moderate-to-severe OSAS for polysomnography.

Efficacy of oral myofunctional therapy in middle-aged to elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnoea treated with continuous positive airway pressure

BACKGROUND

Oral myofunctional therapy (MFT) is an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in middle-aged patients. However, few reports have described its use in elderly patients with moderate and severe OSA. Moreover, no studies have examined the relationship between changes in tongue pressure with MFT and the severity of OSA.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted an interventional study using MFT to evaluate the effect of MFT on middle-to-senior-aged patients with moderate or severe OSA and compared changes in apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) and tongue pressure.

METHODS

Thirty-two OSA patients (≥45 years) treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were included. MFT was performed in parallel with CPAP. Three days after CPAP discontinuation, polysomnographies were performed and tongue pressures were measured before and after MFT.

RESULTS

Patients were 69.3 ± 1.5 years old. After 6 months of MFT, AHI decreased significantly from 34.7 to 29.0/h (P = .03), while tongue pressure significantly increased from 35.9 to 45.6 kPa (P < .01). Seven patients (22%), including 6 of the 12 patients with moderate OSA (50%), experienced successful CPAP discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

MFT can be a useful intervention even among middle-aged to elderly patients with OSA. Increased tongue pressure may have contributed to the AHI improvement. Clinical trials: Trial registration at www.umin.ac.jp UMIN000027547.

Advanced interdisciplinary treatment protocol for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea including medical, surgical, and orthodontic care: a narrative review

OBJECTIVE

To suggest an updated interdisciplinary treatment protocol for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) based on the integration of craniofacial growth modification into medical and surgical sleep practice.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library were searched up to February 2020 using keywords. Among 184 articles, 80 studies were finally included. An integrated treatment protocol for POSA encompassing craniofacial skeletal management as well as medical and surgical care was attempted.

RESULTS

A differential diagnostic workflow for identifying the phenotype of POSA was suggested, and a phenotype-based treatment protocol for POSA was proposed. Despite the lack of high level of evidence, timely skeletal growth modification in three dimensions using craniofacial growth potential could be valuable treatment for upper airway development in POSA patients with craniofacial phenotypic cause.

CONCLUSION

A novel precision treatment protocol will advance clinicians to determine the primary option or to apply the combined strategy for POSA patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea: focus on myofunctional therapy

PURPOSE

Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a modality of treatment for children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to promote changes in the musculature of the upper airways. This review summarizes and discusses the effects of OMT on OSA, the therapeutic programs employed, and their possible mechanisms of action.

METHODS

We conducted an online literature search using the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Search terms were "obstructive sleep apnea" in combination with "myofunctional therapy" OR "oropharyngeal exercises" OR "speech therapy". We considered original articles in English and Portuguese containing a diagnosis of OSA based on polysomnography (PSG). The primary outcomes of interest for this review were objective measurement derived from PSG and subjective sleep symptoms. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of orofacial myofunctional status.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included in this review. The studies reviewed reveal that several benefits of OMT were demonstrated in adults, which include significant decrease of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), reduced arousal index, improvement in subjective symptoms of daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and life quality. In children with residual apnea, OMT promoted a decrease of AHI, increase in oxygen saturation, and improvement of orofacial myofunctional status. Few of the studies reviewed reported the effects of OMT on the musculature.

CONCLUSION

The present review showed that OMT is effective for the treatment of adults in reducing the severity of OSA and snoring, and improving the quality of life. OMT is also successful for the treatment of children with residual apnea. In addition, OMT favors the adherence to continuous positive airway pressure. However, randomized and high-quality studies are still rare, and the effects of treatment should also be analyzed on a long-term basis, including measures showing if changes occurred in the musculature.