Long-term Obstructive Sleep Apnea Therapy; a 10-Year Follow-up of Mandibular Advancement Device and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder, commonly managed by either continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Long-term follow-up and comparison regarding efficacy of these therapies is scarce. In this study the results of treatment, patient adherence, and satisfaction over a 10-year follow-up of these therapies are reported. Methods: This is a longitudinal follow-up study taken from a subset of patients initially enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial of 103 patients with OSA (51 and 52 patients randomized for MAD and CPAP, respectively). After a 10-year follow-up period, 14 patients using MAD and 17 patients using CPAP could be evaluated for this longitudinal follow-up study. Data were analyzed at baseline, after 3 months and at 1-, 2-, and 10-year follow-up. All 31 patients with OSA underwent polysomnography and self-reported measurements. Results: Polysomnography results showed a favorable outcome of both therapies at 10-year follow-up. At baseline, included patients in both groups did not significantly differ in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values. At 10-year follow-up, both the MAD and CPAP groups showed a significant reduction in AHI. At baseline the mean AHI in the MAD group was 31.7 ± 20.6 events/h whereas in the CPAP group it was 49.2 ± 26.1 events/h. At 10-year follow-up the mean AHI in the MAD group was 9.9 ± 10.3 events/h and in the CPAP group it was 3.4 ± 5.4 events/h. Both therapies resulted in a substantial improvement in self-reported neurobehavioral outcomes at 10-year follow-up. Conclusions: Both CPAP and MAD therapy demonstrate good and stable treatment effects after a 10-year follow-up period. Therefore, when indicated, both therapies are appropriate modalities for the long-term management of OSA

Dental side effects of long-term obstructive sleep apnea therapy:a 10-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVES: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are usually treated with either mandibular advancement device (MAD) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in dental occlusion associated with long-term MAD and CPAP therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 14 OSA patients using MAD and 17 OSA patients using CPAP therapy were evaluated at baseline, 2-year and 10-year follow-up. Changes in dental occlusion were analyzed from dental plaster casts with a digital sliding caliper. RESULTS: At 2-year follow-up, MAD therapy resulted in significant dental changes when compared with baseline values. In MAD therapy, overjet and overbite decreased with 1.1 ± 1.8 mm and 1.1 ± 1.2 mm respectively. With CPAP therapy overjet and overbite decreased significantly with 0.2 ± 0.5 mm and 0.3 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. Both groups also showed significant changes in molar occlusion. After a 10-year follow-up, significant and more pronounced changes were seen in overjet and overbite. In MAD therapy, overjet and overbite decreased with 3.5 ± 1.5 mm and 2.9 ± 1.5 mm respectively when compared with baseline values. In CPAP therapy, overjet and overbite decreased with 0.7 ± 1.5 mm and 0.8 ± 1.4 mm respectively when compared with baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that MAD and CPAP therapy result in significant changes in dental occlusion. These changes appear progressive and more pronounced with MAD compared to CPAP therapy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Long-term OSA treatment results in significant dental side effects that may progress over time. Informed consent is fundamental before starting MAD treatment and individualized long-term follow-up is of eminent importance