Premium
Evolution of Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea after Different Treatments
Author(s) -
Sahlman Johanna,
Pukkila Matti,
Seppä Juha,
Tuomilehto Henri
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e3180514d08
Subject(s) - obstructive sleep apnea , sleep (system call) , medicine , apnea , cardiology , computer science , operating system
Study Objectives : To evaluate the prognosis of mild obstructive sleep apnea in relation to different treatment modalities. Study Design : An open, retrospective, longitudinal follow‐up study. Methods : Fifty adult patients diagnosed and treated for mild obstructive sleep apnea at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Kuopio University Hospital between 1998 and 2004 had a control polysomnography in 2005. The changes in apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) were observed in untreated (n = 28), operative (n = 11), and continuous positive airway pressure (n = 11) treatment groups at a long‐term follow‐up visit. Results : The mean follow‐up period was 4 (range, 1.3–9.0; SD, 1.9) years. The untreated patients had a statistically significant increase in AHI (13.3, SD 18.3) at the follow‐up. Half of these patients developed a moderate or severe degree of sleep apnea, and only 11% were cured. In patients who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure, the degree of obstructive sleep apnea became worse in 64% of cases, and in 27% of patients, the AHI returned to normal (<5). The degree of obstructive sleep apnea in operated patients deteriorated only in 18%, and in 27% of the patients, the AHI returned to normal (<5). Conclusions : Mild obstructive sleep apnea has a natural tendency to worsen with time. Active treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea appears, therefore, to be advisable.