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Rationale: Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) continues to be low with high termination rates. Alternative therapies to CPAP are needed., Objectives: To compare objective adherence to CPAP and Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) and to evaluate their effectiveness. Additionally, to identify treatment usage patterns and the clinical effectiveness of having both therapies., Methods: This multi-center, double-randomized, three-phase trial (titration/cross-over/observation) was conducted at three Canadian universities. Eligible participants were treatment-naïve with mild to severe OSA., Measurements and Main Results: Primary outcome was objectively measured adherence (hours/night) during cross-over phase. Secondary outcomes included efficacy during cross-over phase; adherence during observational phase; patient-centered outcomes, blood pressure and side-effects during cross-over and observational phases. Duration of cross-over and observational phases were 2.5 and 6 months respectively.Eighty-one participants were enrolled in the first randomization. Seventy-nine entered the adaptation/titration phase [mean age (sd); 52·3 (10·8) years, 58 males], 73 entered the cross-over phase (included in the intention-to-treat analysis) and 64 completed the observation phase. Mean objective adherence over 1-month, MAS showed higher adherence than CPAP, 6·0 versus 5·3 h/night (difference= 0·7 h/night, 95% CI: 0·3-1·2 h, p<0·001). Mean CPAP-MAS difference (95% CI) in efficacy of 10·4 (7·8-13) events/hour, p<0·001. During the observation phase 55% (35/64) of participants chose to alternate therapies. All treatments led to substantial improvement in patient-centered outcomes., Conclusions: Despite the higher efficacy of CPAP and higher adherence to MAS, both demonstrate comparable clinical effectiveness on patient-centered outcomes. Having both CPAP and MAS can improve long-term management of OSA., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness, compliance, and side effects of tongue stabilizing devices (TSDs)., Methods: Thirty-nine patients were followed up after 12 and 30 months. The subjective effectiveness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Functional Outcomes Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ-10), the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ), and a sleep-related quality of life questionnaire (QoL). Compliance and side effects were assessed., Results: At 12-months, 35.9% of patients confirmed continuing the therapy, compared to only 15.4% of patients at 30 months. At 30 months, a significant average improvement of ESS (2.0 ± 2.8) was observed compared to baseline levels in six patients. Six patients demonstrated an average increase in blood pressure. The most frequently reported side effects were mouth dryness and excessive salivation. The 3D analysis revealed small tooth movements., Conclusion: The TSD therapy demonstrated a good long-term subjective effectiveness against OSA but had a relatively low treatment acceptance rate.

Study Objective: Excessive daytime sleepiness is common with obstructive sleep apnoea and can persist despite efforts to optimise primary airway therapy. The literature lacks recommendations regarding differential diagnosis and management of excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnoea. This study sought to develop expert consensus statements to bridge the gap between existing literature/guidelines and clinical practice., Methods: A panel of 10 international experts was convened to undertake a modified Delphi process. Statements were developed based on available evidence identified through a scoping literature review, and expert opinion. Consensus was achieved through 3 rounds of iterative, blinded survey voting and revision to statements until a predetermined level of agreement was met (≥80 % voting "strongly agree" or "agree with reservation")., Results: Consensus was achieved for 32 final statements. The panel agreed excessive daytime sleepiness is a patient-reported symptom. The importance of subjective/objective evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness in the initial evaluation and serial management of obstructive sleep apnoea was recognised. The differential diagnosis of residual excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnoea was discussed. Optimizing airway therapy (eg, troubleshooting issues affecting effectiveness) was addressed. The panel recognised occurrence of residual excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnoea despite optimal airway therapy and the need to evaluate patients for underlying causes., Conclusions: Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea is a public health issue requiring increased awareness, recognition, and attention. Implementation of these statements may improve patient care, long-term management, and clinical outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest J. Steier has received consultancy fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. R. Bogan is a shareholder of WaterMark Medical and Healthy Humming, LLC; serves on the board of directors for WaterMark Medical; receives consultancy fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Harmony Biosciences, Avadel Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, and Oventus; performs industry-funded research for Avadel, Axsome, Bresotec, Bayer, Idorsia, Suven, Jazz, Balance, NLS, Vanda, Merck, Eisai, Philips, Fresca, Takeda, Liva Nova, Roche, Sanofi, Sommetrics, and Noctrix; and serves on the speakers bureau for Jazz, Eisai, and Harmony. I. Cano-Pumarega has received consultancy fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Bioprojet, as well as fees for speaking activities from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. J. Fleetham has received consultancy fees and fees for speaking activities from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. G. Insalaco has received consultancy fees and fees for speaking activities from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Bioprojet. C. Lal has received consultancy fees from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Chest/GSK. J.-L. Pepin has received lecture fees or conference traveling grants from Resmed, Perimetre, Philips, Fisher and Paykel, AstraZeneca, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Agiradom, and Bioprojet, and has received unrestricted research funding from ResMed, Philips, GlaxoSmithKline, Bioprojet, Fondation de la Recherche Medicale (Foundation for Medical Research), Direction de la Recherche Clinique du CHU de Grenoble (Research Branch Clinic CHU de Grenoble), and fond de dotation “Agir pour les Maladies Chroniques” (endowment fund “Acting for Chronic Diseases”). W. Randerath is a member of the advisory board and receives consultancy fees, personal fees, and travel grants from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Bioprojet and (outside this topic) from Philips Respironics (ended 2021) and Desitin (ended 2020). S. Redline received grants from Jazz and NIH and consultancy fees from Jazz, Eli Lilly, Apnimed Inc, and Eisai Inc. A. Malhotra receives funding from NIH; receives income related to medical education from Livanova, Jazz, Equillium, and Corvus; and reports that ResMed provided a philanthropic donation to UC San Diego., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Objectives: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and self-reported outcomes of tongue-stabilizing device (TSD) therapy as compared to those of mandibular advancement device (MAD) therapy in an adult population diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea., Methods: This study is a parallel, nonrandomized clinical trial of the TSD and MAD therapies. The efficacy of both interventions was evaluated objectively by level 3 home sleep apnea testing and by self-report using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, the Chalder Fatigue Scale, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Adherence and adverse effects were self-reported., Results: Of the 39 patients who received TSD therapy, 27 managed to adapt and complete the trial and were matched with 26 patients who received MAD therapy. At the 2-month follow-up, the acceptance rate of the TSD therapy was 53.8%. Both patients receiving TSD therapy and patients receiving MAD therapy showed significant improvements in their respiratory event index ( P < .05), with no difference between the treatments ( P > .05). In those receiving TSD therapy (n = 27), the only self-reported efficacy measure that significantly improved with TSD therapy was the Chalder Fatigue Scale ( P < .05). In contrast, all 4 self-reported measures (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and Chalder Fatigue Scale) showed a significant improvement with MAD therapy., Conclusions: This study revealed similar improvements in apneas and oxygen saturation between TSD and MAD therapies. Whereas MAD therapy was a better treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in terms of daytime sleepiness and quality-of-life improvements, TSD therapy had a low treatment acceptance rate., Clinical Trial Registration: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: The Efficacy of Tongue Stabilizing Device in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02329925; Identifier: NCT02329925; and Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Adherence and Preference of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure vs Mandibular Advancement Splints in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients: A Randomized Trial (CHOICE); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02242617; Identifier: NCT02242617., Citation: Alshhrani WM, Hamoda MM, Okuno K, et al. The efficacy of a titrated tongue-stabilizing device on obstructive sleep apnea: a quasi-experimental study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1607-1618., (© 2021 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Abstract: Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea is a phenomenon that has been reported after many obstructive sleep apnea treatment modalities. We present a case of demonstrating treatment-emergent central sleep apnea while using the tongue stabilizing device therapy. This case adds to the evidence that showed the effect of the supine position on the severity of central sleep apnea and shows the advantage of polysomnography follow-up after oral appliance therapy for central apnea assessment., (© 2019 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Pediatric sleep medicine is rapidly evolving in Canada. As pediatric sleep disorders are increasingly recognized, there is a growing need for clinicians educated in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric sleep disorders. Current pediatric sleep resources in Canada are inadequate to meet the needs of the population. Until this year, there was no formal pathway or specific requirements for pediatric sleep disorder medicine training in Canada and exposure to this field of medicine in post-graduate training was limited. In 2018, the Royal College of Physicians of Canada approved an Area of Focused Competence program for certification and maintenance of competence in Sleep Disordered Medicine. It was designed to ensure adequate breadth and depth of training experiences in this diverse field. The goals of the program are to ensure competence in the assessment and management of adults and children with a range of sleep-wake disorders and sleep-disordered breathing, to interpret sleep investigations, to administratively manage a sleep laboratory and to advance the discipline of Sleep Disorder Medicine through research. The program follows a competency-based model in which, within the year of training, trainees accumulate a dossier of experiences which are evaluated by a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons committee. This new program will ensure that a critical mass of trained sleep medicine physicians is developed to meet the needs of the Canadian pediatric population and to contribute to advancement of the field of pediatric sleep medicine., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Swallowing is an important physiological response that protects the airway. Although aspiration during sleep may cause aspiration pneumonia, the mechanisms responsible have not yet been elucidated. We evaluated the coordination between respiration and swallowing by infusing water into the pharynx of healthy young adults during each sleep stage. Seven normal subjects participated in the study. During polysomnography recordings, to elicit a swallow we injected distilled water into the pharynx during the awake state and each sleep stage through a nasal catheter. We assessed swallow latency, swallow apnea time, the respiratory phase during a swallow, the number of swallows, and coughing. A total number of 79 swallows were recorded. The median swallow latency was significantly higher in stage 2 (10.05 s) and stage 3 (44.17 s) when compared to awake state (4.99 s). The swallow latency in stage 3 showed a very wide interquartile range. In two subjects, the result was predominantly prolonged compared to the other subjects. There was no significant difference in the swallow apnea time between sleep stages. The presence of inspiration after swallowing, repetitive swallowing, and coughing after swallowing was more frequent during sleep than when awake. This study suggests that the coordination between respiration and swallowing as a defense mechanism against aspiration was impaired during sleep. Our results supported physiologically the fact that healthy adult individuals aspirate pharyngeal secretions during sleep.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to determine the frequencies of swallowing and swallowing associated with arousals during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine whether these were associated with the severity of OSA and differed according to the preceding breathing route., Methods: Standard audio-video polysomnography including an evaluation of swallowing-related elevation of the thyroid cartilage and breathing route (i.e., nasal or oronasal) was undertaken in an academic sleep laboratory. Fifty-six patients were analyzed (13 non-OSA patients, 17 mild, 10 moderate, and 16 severe OSA)., Results: The frequency of swallowing per hour of sleep was significantly higher in the severe OSA patients when compared to mild OSA patients (mild OSA, 3.1/h and severe OSA, 8.4/h). This was mainly due to the significantly higher frequency of swallowing associated with a respiratory event-related arousal in the severe OSA patients when compared to non- and mild OSA patients (non-OSA, 0.6/h; mild OSA, 1.0/h; severe OSA, 6.0/h), especially when swallowing was preceded by oronasal breathing (non-OSA, 0.2/h; mild OSA, 0.4/h; severe OSA, 4.2/h)., Conclusions: Swallowing frequency during sleep can increase with increasing OSA severity in most OSA patients. These events are predominately associated with respiratory event-related arousals and are more frequent when preceded by oronasal breathing. The observed swallowing under high ventilatory needs may compromise the maintenance of the pharynx as a conduit for airflow in OSA patients.