Positional therapy for obstructive sleep apnea with NightBalance® - Prospective study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.2182Keywords:
sleep apnea, positional sleep apnea, positional therapy, NightBalance®Abstract
Objective: To verify whether there is an improvement in the severity of positional obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (POSA) after positional therapy (PT) with NightBalance® device.
Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with POSA, according to the Cartwright criteria, between January 2022 and October 2023, by type 3 polysomnography performed in the ENT department of Hospital Garcia de Orta were included. The inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, adherence to treatment with NightBalance® for at least 60 days. Patients who did not complete the study period or who preferred other therapeutic modalities for OSA were excluded.
Results: 11 patients completed the study. We obtained, on average, a reduction in AHI from 16.76/h to 9.27/h, p<0.05. 64% of patients were good responders to PT with a reduction in AHI, on average, from 15.11/h to 5.07/h, 57% of them having an AHI<5/h. In the responding population, we obtained an improvement in AHI, ODI and remaining in a non-supine position, p<0.05.
Conclusions: Positional therapy with NightBalance® is a good therapeutic option to be considered in patients with mild and moderate POSA, allowing the patient to remain in a non-supine position, with a reduction in the AHI and an improvement in the ODI.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Cláudia Santos, Ricardo São Pedro, Henrique Teixeira, Carla André, Luís Antunes
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