CPAP ( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) versus Oral Appliance Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Ap
This fascinating study that was done at three research facilities in Australia.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD), or Oral Appliances are commonly used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
126 patients with moderate to severe OSA where treated with CPAP for one month and then where switched over to an Oral Appliance for one month and visa-versa.
The treatment order was randomly assigned as to which patients started with CPAP and which with an Oral Appliance.
Measurements of Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, Subjective Sleepiness, Driving Simulator Performance and Quality of Life ( FOSQ and SF-36 questionnaires) where compared between treatments.
It was found that patients used CPAP an average of 5.2 hours per night.
However,Oral Appliances was worn longer each night, an average of 6.5 hours per night.
There were no changes in blood pressure with both treatments.
In contrast, improvements in sleepiness and driver simulator performance were similar with both treatments.
Patients preferred Oral Appliances over CPAP.
Oral Appliances also scored superior to CPAP in Quality of Life questionnaires.
In conclusion, important health outcomes were similar after 1 month of optimal Oral Appliance and CPAP treatment in patients with moderate-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
CPAP is more efficacious than an Oral Appliance, but CPAP is not worn as often as an Oral Appliance.
Because Oral Appliances are worn more often, the effectiveness of both treatments is similar in moderate-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
