Abstract
Objectives:
Evaluate the changes of sleep quality in patients using a mandibular advancement device (MAD) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based upon cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC).
Methods:
A total of 52 patients (mean age, 53.7 ± 9.6 years; range, 33-74 years) were included in this study. Of them, there were 47 males (90.4%). All subjects were diagnosed with OSA after in-laboratory full-night polysomnography and re-evaluated after 3-month use of a MAD. At baseline, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 33.6 ± 17.0. We compared CPC parameters at baseline with those after 3 month use of a MAD.
Results:
Low frequency coupling (59.5 ± 16.1 to 47.7 ± 14.8%, P < .001) and elevated low frequency coupling (44.6 ± 18.4 to 32.6 ± 15.7%, P < .001) significantly decreased. High frequency coupling (28.6 ± 16.0 to 36.5 ± 15.7%, P = .004) and very low frequency coupling (11.7 ± 7.2 to 15.3 ± 6.6%, P = .028) significantly increased. The change of AHI significantly correlated with changes of the CPC parameters: negatively correlated with high frequency coupling change (r = –0.572, P < .001); positively correlated with low frequency and elevated low frequency coupling changes (r = 0.604 and 0.497, respectively; P < .001 in both).
Conclusions:
Low frequency coupling decreased as AHI improved while high frequency coupling increased as AHI improved. The CPC parameters showed that the sleep quality was improved by MAD therapy.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.