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The effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on nasal patency
Author(s) -
Pitts Kristen D.,
Arteaga Alberto A.,
Hardy Elliot T.,
Stevens Ben P.,
Spankovich Christopher S.,
Lewis Andrea F.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.22157
Subject(s) - medicine , acoustic rhinometry , continuous positive airway pressure , nose , prospective cohort study , airway , obstructive sleep apnea , anesthesia , breathing , sitting , surgery , pathology
Background Nasal congestion and obstruction are reported in the majority of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) users and are frequently cited as reasons for noncompliance. To our knowledge, no study has demonstrated a change in objective or subjective nasal patency in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after a therapeutic trial of CPAP therapy. Methods This prospective nonrandomized trial tested the hypothesis that CPAP therapy would result in both objective and subjective improvements in nasal patency in patients with OSA. Prior to initiation of CPAP, acoustic rhinometry (AR) was used to determine nasal volume and minimum cross‐sectional area in the upright and reclined positions. Subjective nasal patency was assessed with the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire. Both assessments were repeated at follow‐up visits. Results AR data demonstrated a statistically significant increase in total nasal volume (TV) in the reclined position ( p = 0.002) and minimum cross‐sectional area (MCA) in both the sitting and reclined positions ( p = 0.006, p = 0.021) in OSA patients after >30 days of CPAP therapy and with >70% compliance. NOSE scores decreased significantly ( p = 0.038) representing an improvement in nasal patency. Conclusion Objective and subjective measurements of TV and MCA increased after initiation of CPAP therapy in this prospective study.