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Purpose: Electrical stimulation of the upper airway dilator muscles is an emerging treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Invasive hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has been accepted as treatment alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for selected patients, while transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) of the upper airway is being investigated as non-invasive alternative. Methods: A meta-analysis (CRD42017074674) on the effects of both HNS and TES on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in OSA was conducted including published evidence up to May 2018. Random-effects models were used. Heterogeneity and between-study variance were assessed by I2 and τ2, respectively. Results: Of 41 identified clinical trials, 20 interventional trials (n = 895) could be pooled in a meta-analysis (15 HNS [n = 808], 5 TES [n = 87]). Middle-aged (mean ± SD 56.9 ± 5.5years) and overweight (body mass index 29.1 ± 1.5kg/m2) patients with severe OSA (AHI 37.5 ± 7.0/h) were followed-up for 6.9 ± 4.0months (HNS) and 0.2 ± 0.4months (TES), respectively. The AHI improved by − 24.9h−1 [95%CI − 28.5, − 21.2] in HNS (χ2 79%, I2 82%) and by − 16.5h−1 [95%CI − 25.1, − 7.8] in TES (χ2 7%, I2 43%; both p < 0.001). The ESS was reduced by − 5.0 (95%CI − 5.9, − 4.1) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both invasive and transcutaneous electrical stimulation reduce OSA severity by a clinically relevant margin. HNS results in a clinically relevant improvement of symptoms. While HNS represents an invasive treatment for selected patients with moderate to severe OSA, TES should be further investigated as potential non-invasive approach for OSA.

Background: In 2007 and 2012, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) updated their scoring criteria for nocturnal respiratory events. We hypothesised that this could have led to changes in the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) overlap syndrome. Methods: In a retrospective study, polysomnographic (PSG) recordings of 34 patients with COPD/OSA overlap syndrome were independently analysed using the AASM criteria from 2007 (AASM2007) and 2012 (AASM2012). The primary outcome was the difference in AHI, the secondary outcomes were frequency of hypopnoeas, diagnosis of overlap syndrome and differences between the AASM 2007 recommended (AASM2007Rec) and altered (AASM2007Alt) classifications. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) if normally distributed, and as median (interquartile range) if non-normally distributed. Results: The PSGs of 34 elderly [aged 67 (7.0) years] and predominantly male (m:f, 31:3) patients with COPD [FEV1%pred 48.4% (19.6%)] were analysed. The AHI using AASM2007Rec criteria was 5.9 (2.0, 15.1) events/hour vs. 20.4 (11.5, 28.0) events/hour using the 2012 criteria (P

Background: Electrical current can be used to stimulate upper airway dilator muscles to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Ultrasound devices are widely available and may be used to detect contraction of the upper airway dilator muscles assessing the functionality of electrical stimulation (ES) used for this treatment. Methods: In a physiological sub-study of a randomised controlled trial, patients with OSA underwent ultrasound examination to assess contraction of the upper airway dilator muscles in response to transcutaneous ES. Ultrasound scans were scored according to the picture quality (poor = ‘0’, acceptable = ‘1’ and good = ‘2’). Tongue base thickness was assessed in mid-sagittal and coronal planes with (D2, A2) and without ES (D1, A1), while awake and seated. The primary outcome was to determine the increase in tongue thickness during ES in both views (D2 – D1 = ΔD), as well as any increase in the cross-sectional area (CSA) in the coronal view (A2 – A1 = ΔA). Data were presented as mean and standard deviation (SD). Results: Fourteen patients [eight male, age 57.5 (9.8) years, body mass index (BMI) 29.5 (2.8) kg/m2] with OSA [Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) 19.5 (10.6) × hour-1] were studied. Quality of the ultrasound scans was acceptable or good with 1.5 (0.5) points. In the mid-sagittal plane, ΔD was +0.17 (0.07) cm in midline and +0.21 (0.09) cm in the widest diameter, a percentual change of 12.2% (4%) and 12.8% (5.2%) (P