The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of device-assisted oropharyngeal rehabilitation (OPR) in improving upper airway muscle function and reducing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in adult patients diagnosed with OSA who are receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does combining OPR with CPAP increase upper airway space volume compared to using CPAP alone? 2. Does OPR improve tongue muscle strength, and is this improvement associated with reduced CPAP pressure requirements? 3. Do patients receiving OPR (alone or combined with CPAP) show greater improvements in OSA severity and clinical symptoms compared to those receiving CPAP alone or no intervention? Researchers will compare four groups-Control, OPR-only, CPAP-only, and CPAP + OPR-to see if device-assisted OPR enhances treatment outcomes beyond CPAP alone.
Participants will:
1. Be randomly assigned to one of four groups (Control, OPR-only, CPAP-only, CPAP+OPR). 2. Perform home-based OPR exercises (30-45 minutes/session, 1-2 sessions/day, 3-5 days/week for 3 months) in the OPR and CPAP+OPR groups. 3. Have their exercise monitored using a strength sensor, with intensity adjusted every 2-4 weeks during hospital visits. 4. Undergo assessments before and after the intervention, including:
(1) Polysomnography for OSA severity, (2) CT and ultrasound for upper airway and tongue muscle structure, (3) Tongue muscle strength/endurance tests, (4) Sleep quality questionnaires, (5) CPAP usage and pressure reports.
Adults aged 20 to 68 years
Newly diagnosed with mild to severe pure obstructive sleep apnea based on polysomnography
Severe allergic rhinitis
Sinusitis with nasal polyps
Adenoid hypertrophy
Bilateral tonsillar hypertrophy (Friedman grade ≥ III)
Parallel
Control
Other interventionSleep hygiene education
Oropharyngeal Exercise
DeviceDevice-monitoring oropharyngeal exercise, 1-5 days a week for three months
Continuous positive airway pressure
DeviceContinuous positive airway pressure, 1-5 days a week for three months
Continuous positive airway pressure and oropharyngeal exercise
DeviceContinuous positive airway pressure and device-monitoring oropharyngeal exercise, 1-5 days a week for three months
Apnea-Hypopnea Index
The apnea-hypopnea index will be obtained from the overnight Polysomnography (PSG) study. PSG will be performed in the sleep center of National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Less than 5 events/hour indicates normal; AHI between 5-14 events/hour indicates mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA); AHI between 15-30 events/hour indicates moderate OSA; and AHI more than 30 events/hour indicates severe OSA.
Tongue Muscle Strength
The maximal muscle strength of genioglossus muscles using The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) system, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA) (kPa)
Tongue Muscle Endurance
The endurance of the genioglossus muscles using The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) system, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA) (in seconds).
Pharyngeal Airway Volume
Computer Tomography (CT) will be performed. The pharyngeal airway volume will be calculated from the hard palate to the epiglottis and the data will be presented in cm\^3. The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates greater in pharyngeal airway volume.
Cross Section Area on the Tip of Epiglottis
Computer Tomography (CT) will be performed. Cross section area on the tip of the epiglottis was measured and the data will be presented in cm\^2. The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates greater in the cross-sectional area of the region.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
