OBJECTIVES: The current investigation aimed to carry out a clinical and polysomnographic assessment of treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) with an oral appliance (OA) developed and tested by two Brazilian federal universities. METHODOLOGY: The sample was composed of 50 patients (aged between 18 and 65 years, 33 men and 17 women) with initial polysomnographic diagnosis of light to moderate OSAS. All patients underwent a second, full-night polysomnography with the use of the OA approximately 6 months after the first assessment. Based on the reduction of respiratory events obtained with the OA, patients were distributed in good responders (Apnea and Hypopnea Index/AHI under 10 and with reduction of at least 50% in relation to baseline); and poor responders (AHI of 10 or over with OA). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In 54% of the sample, AIH reduced to less than five events/hour with OA; in 38% the AHI reduction was more than 50% in relation to baseline (but more than five); and in 6% of the sample, the AHI reduced less than 50%. Good responders corresponded to 86% of the studied sample, while poor responders to 14%. We noticed significant improvement in somnolence, in AIH, in microarousals and also in minimum oxygen saturation with the treatment. Increased body mass index (BMI) seemed to interfere unfavorably in the performance of the OA studied.
Sleep apnea; Obstructive; Respiratory protective devices; Polysomnography; Snoring
