University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School
Doi
Abstract
The long-term patient-centered outcomes of oral appliance therapy (OAT) for management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are not well understood. This study aims to assess the general and condition specific quality of life and perceived occlusal and functional changes of individuals with OSA who had OAT delivery two years or longer ago. 3 validated (SAQLI, SF-36, PSPOF) and 1 custom (Oral Compliance) questionnaire were mailed to 139 identified patients from the UNC School of Dentistry Sleep Clinic who had met inclusion criteria of: a PSG diagnosis of OSA, age 18-60 at time of OAT delivery and had delivery of OAT 2 years or longer ago for management of OSA. 31 patients, 58% male with mean age of 49 returned completed questionnaires. 58% of these patients continued to wear OAT for a mean 4.9 years (SD=1.77), and those who discontinued OAT reported use of CPAP, weight loss, BSSO, or nothing to manage their OSA. For quality of life, there were no statistically significant average differences between wearers and non-wearers of OAT in regards to PSPOF or SF-36 subscores. In the SAQLI, those that continued OAT reported greater perception of general health than non-wearers. Non-wearers reported significantly greater problems with side effects from current treatment for OSA than wearers did from OAT. The long-term adherence to OAT was high suggesting quality of life benefits to this type of therapy for managing OSA. Long term OAT adherence is a function of patients’ perceptions to both the conferred benefits of treatment and the unfavorable treatment induced side effects.Master of Scienc
