Patient Related Outcome and Therapy Effects in Stimulation Treatment of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Several neurostimulation devices exist for the treatment of various sleep-related breathing diseases. The most data for hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) in the therapy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) derive the HNS with respiratory sensing. Herewith, daytime sleepiness measured with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was improved in several publications by 5 points with a stability shown for up to several years. Sleep related quality of life, documented with the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, increased by 2 points. In many cohorts showed a mean usage of 5 to 6 hours per night. Under the consideration of shorter follow-ups and smaller group sizes, the ESS improved by 4 under unilateral continuous HNS and by 3 under bilateral HNS. Transvenous stimulation of the phrenic nerve is approved for the treatment in central sleep apnea. In a pivotal trial with 5 year follow-up data, an ESS reduction is documented by 3 points. There is one publication describing a usage of more than 5 hours. The daytime enoral neuromuscular electrical therapy improved ESS (2 points) and sleep-related quality of life of the snoring patients and the bed partner. The daytime training for the effects during the night adherence is given with 83%. For all described devices, there are running or announced studies and/or registry trials that consider patient related outcome.