OSA treatment history in an upper airway stimulation trial cohort

Analyze the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment history in a group of participants who enrolled in a hypoglossal nerve stimulation trial.

Moderate-severe OSA patients with difficulty adhering to CPAP presented for enrollment in a multicenter trial. Self-reported history on prior OSA medical therapy was collected at enrollment, including OSA diagnosis date, CPAP start and stop dates, oral appliance trial, and reasons for discontinuation or non-adherence.

The cohort consisted of 929 participants, 83% male, with a mean age (53.9 ± 10.5) years. Ninety percent (n = 835) had complete CPAP information including 47% (n = 435) who discontinued therapy prior to enrollment and 43% (n = 400) who were still attempting CPAP but had inadequate adherence. Abandonment rates were 60% at 1-year, 73% at 3-years, and 86% at 5-years. Oral appliance therapy was attempted by 171 patients for mean (1.8 ± 2.3) years, with 81% abandonment at 1 year, 89% at 3-years, and 94% at 5-years.

In this CPAP-refractory cohort, high rates of CPAP abandonment were reported in the first several years with approximately half of the participants not receiving any treatment despite being diagnosed for >5 years. Close clinical follow-up and consideration of alternative treatment options is indicated in all OSA patients in order to ensure adequate longitudinal care.