External nasal dilation reduces snoring in chronic rhinitis patients: a randomized controlled trial

Chronic rhinitis patients often suffer from unrefreshing sleep and snoring, related to increased nasal resistance to airflow. Previous trials based on subjective assessment of snoring have demonstrated beneficial effects of Breathe Right (BR), a noninvasive external nasal dilator. Polysomnography (PSG) was applied to objectively assess the effects of BR on snoring. Twelve nonobese chronic rhinitis patients participated in the present study, which had a randomized, placebo-controlled design. The presence of snoring and the absence of sleep apnoea was demonstrated during a baseline overnight sleep study. Patients were then randomized for placebo or true nasal dilator treatment, which was also assessed by overnight PSG. The use of BR had no effect on sleep quality, arousal-index apnoea-hypopnoea-index or snoring loudness. Snoring frequency was significantly lowered by BR (173+/-29 snores x h(-l)), compared with placebo (258+/-34 snores x h(-1); p=0.016). The results support the hypothesis that Breathe Right is effective in reducing the amount of snoring in patients with chronic rhinitis. This objective finding is in line with some other reports on subjective improvement of snoring, based upon the judgement of bedpartners.