Rhinological interventions for obstructive sleep apnoea - a systematic review and descriptive meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent chronic condition marked by upper airway collapse during sleep.
• The nasal airway is a critical component of the upper airway, and its obstruction may influence OSA severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on the efficacy of rhinological surgical interventions in managing obstructive sleep apnoea.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Studies were included if they compared non-surgical/non-rhinological interventions with rhinological surgical interventions for OSA treatment.

Main Results:

• Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria.
• Pooled data indicated reductions in the apnoea/hypopnea index and respiratory disturbance index after nasal surgery.
• Study heterogeneity precluded a statistically significant meta-analysis.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests that nasal surgery might provide limited benefits for a specific group of obstructive sleep apnoea patients.