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The sleep position trainer: a new treatment for positional obstructive sleep apnoea

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Abstract

Background

Positional obstructive sleep apnoea (POSA), defined as a supine apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) twice or more as compared to the AHI in the other positions, occurs in 56 % of obstructive sleep apnoea patients. Positional therapy (PT) is one of several available treatment options for these patients. So far, PT has been hampered by compliance problems, mainly because of the usage of bulky masses placed in the back. In this article, we present a novel device for treating POSA patients.

Methods

Patients older than 18 years with mild to moderate POSA slept with the Sleep Position Trainer (SPT), strapped to the chest, for a period of 29 ± 2 nights. SPT measures the body position and vibrates when the patient lies in supine position.

Results

Thirty-six patients were included; 31 patients (mean age, 48.1 ± 11.0 years; mean body mass index, 27.0 ± 3.7 kg/m2) completed the study protocol. The median percentage of supine sleeping time decreased from 49.9 % [20.4–77.3 %] to 0.0 % [range, 0.0–48.7 %] (p < 0.001). The median AHI decreased from 16.4 [6.6–29.9] to 5.2 [0.5–46.5] (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients developed an overall AHI below five. Sleep efficiency did not change significantly. Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased significantly. Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire increased significantly. Compliance was found to be 92.7 % [62.0–100.0 %].

Conclusions

The Sleep Position Trainer applied for 1 month is a highly successful and well-tolerated treatment for POSA patients, which diminishes subjective sleepiness and improves sleep-related quality of life without negatively affecting sleep efficiency. Further research, especially on long-term effectiveness, is ongoing.

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Abbreviations

AHI:

Apnoea–hypopnoea index

CPAP:

Continuous positive airway pressure

ESS:

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

FOSQ:

Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire

OSA:

Obstructive sleep apnoea

POSA:

Positional obstructive sleep apnoea

PSG:

Polysomnography

PT:

Positional therapy

SD:

Standard deviation

SPT:

Sleep Position Trainer

TIB:

Time in bed

TST:

Total sleep time

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors have financial or other relationships that might lead to a conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Peter van Maanen, Lideke N. Dun, Ioannis Koutsourelakis & Nico de Vries

  2. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Kristel A. W. Meester, D. Martin Laman & Antonius A. J. Hilgevoord

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Peter van Maanen

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Birgit I. Witte

  5. Department of Otolaryngology/Head Neck Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Peter van Maanen

Authors
  1. J. Peter van Maanen
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  2. Kristel A. W. Meester
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  3. Lideke N. Dun
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  4. Ioannis Koutsourelakis
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  5. Birgit I. Witte
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  6. D. Martin Laman
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  7. Antonius A. J. Hilgevoord
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  8. Nico de Vries
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Peter van Maanen.

Additional information

This study was performed at the St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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van Maanen, J.P., Meester, K.A.W., Dun, L.N. et al. The sleep position trainer: a new treatment for positional obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep Breath 17, 771–779 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0764-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0764-5

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