Practice recommendations for the role of physiotherapy in the management of sleep disorders: the 2022 Brazilian Sleep Association Guidelines.

This clinical guideline supported by the Brazilian Sleep Association comprises a brief history of the development of Brazilian sleep physiotherapy, outlines the role of the physiotherapist as part of a sleep health team, and describes the clinical guidelines in respect of the management of some sleep disorders by the physiotherapist (including sleep breathing disorders, i.e., obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, upper airway resistance syndrome, hypoventilation syndromes and overlap syndrome, and pediatric sleep breathing disorders; sleep bruxism; circadian rhythms disturbances; insomnia; and Willis-Ekbom disease/periodic limb movement disorder. This clinical practice guideline reflects the state of the art at the time of publication and will be reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.

Patients With OSA Are Perceived as Younger Following Treatment With CPAP.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of CPAP treatment and placebo intervention on the facial appearance of patients with OSA. METHODS: Patients with severe OSA were randomized to receive either CPAP treatment or nasal dilator (placebo) intervention for 1 month. The sequence was interposed by 15 days of washout with no treatment. Patients were evaluated by using questionnaires, polysomnography, and facial photographs at baseline and at the end of both interventions. In an electronic survey, the photographs were presented in a randomized order to 704 observers who rated the perceived age, health, attractiveness, and tiredness of the patients. Observers were unaware of the patients' conditions. RESULTS: Thirty patients (age, 46 ± 9 years; 21 men; apnea-hypopnea index, 61.8 ± 26.2) were evaluated. During each intervention period, patients used CPAP 6.0 ± 1.7 h per night on 94% of the nights and the placebo intervention on 98% of the nights. After CPAP treatment, patients were rated younger (47.9 ± 3.5 years) than they appeared at baseline (53.9 ± 4.0 years) and following the placebo treatment (49.8 ± 3.7 years) (P < .001). Linear regression analysis identified that CPAP adherence, total sleep time, and percentage of total sleep time with oxyhemoglobin saturation < 90% were predictors of a decreased age rating following CPAP treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe OSA had a younger appearance following 1 month of CPAP treatment. This benefit can serve as an additional source of motivation for patients with OSA to comply with CPAP treatment and may facilitate OSA management. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT02117271; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Nasal Dilator Strip is an Effective Placebo Intervention for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nasal dilator strip (NDS) as a placebo intervention compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Patients were treated with both NDS and nasal CPAP. The sequence was randomized and interposed by 15 days of washout. Polysomnography was performed at baseline and on the first night of intervention with NDS and CPAP (titration). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were completed at baseline and at the end of both interventions. A questionnaire on the comfort and satisfaction (0 = no to 10 = total) was completed at the end of each intervention. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with OSA were evaluated (19 male; age 46.3 ± 9.3 y; body mass index 33.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2; ESS 15.8 ± 4.1; apnea-hypopnea index 60.7 ± 25.2). Adherence was high in both NDS (98%) and CPAP interventions (94%; 5.8 ± 1.7 h/night). In contrast to the baseline values, NDS intervention had no significant effect on all polysomnographic parameters, but NDS improved somnolence (ESS 13.0 ± 5.4, p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (BDI 7.7 ± 6.9, p = 0.005). Reported satisfaction was significantly higher for CPAP than for NDS (sleep quality 9.2 ± 0.8 vs. 6.1 ± 2.1; wake up at morning: 8.6 ± 1.2 vs. 6.0 ± 2.2; daily activities: 8.9 ± 1.4 vs. 5.8 ± 1.5; quality of life: 8.3 ± 2.1 vs. 3.8 ± 3.5, p < 0.001), but similar low levels of difficulty for both interventions were observed (1.3 ± 2.2 vs. 0.3 ± 1.3, p = 0.098). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that NDS is an attractive placebo intervention for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of CPAP in sleepy patients with OSA.

Oxidative stress and quality of life in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: are there differences after six months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment?

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment on oxidative stress parameters and the quality of life of elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. METHODS: In total, 30 obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients and 27 subjects without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included in this study. Both groups underwent quality of life and oxidative stress evaluations at baseline and after six months. Polysomnography was performed in both groups at baseline and a second time in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group after six months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment. All of the variables were compared between the control and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome groups in this prospective case-control study. RESULTS: The baseline concentrations of the antioxidant enzyme catalase were higher in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group than the control group. After Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment, the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group exhibited a reduction in the level of oxidative stress, as indicated by a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration [pre: 2.7 nmol malondialdehyde/mL (95% 1.6-3.7) vs. post: 1.3 nmol MDA/mL (0.7-1.9), p<0.01]. Additionally, improvements were observed in two domains covered by the SF-36 questionnaire: functional capacity [pre: 77.4 (69.2-85.5) vs. post: 83.4 (76.9-89.9), p = 0.002] and pain [pre: 65.4 (52.8-78.1) vs. post: 77.8 (67.2-88.3), p = 0.004]. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in elderly patients reduced oxidative stress and improved the quality of life.

Oxidative stress and quality of life in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: are there differences after six months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment?

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment on oxidative stress parameters and the quality of life of elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. METHODS: In total, 30 obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients and 27 subjects without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included in this study. Both groups underwent quality of life and oxidative stress evaluations at baseline and after six months. Polysomnography was performed in both groups at baseline and a second time in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group after six months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment. All of the variables were compared between the control and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome groups in this prospective case-control study. RESULTS: The baseline concentrations of the antioxidant enzyme catalase were higher in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group than the control group. After Continuous Positive Airway Pressure treatment, the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group exhibited a reduction in the level of oxidative stress, as indicated by a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration [pre: 2.7 nmol malondialdehyde/mL (95% 1.6-3.7) vs. post: 1.3 nmol MDA/mL (0.7-1.9), p<0.01]. Additionally, improvements were observed in two domains covered by the SF-36 questionnaire: functional capacity [pre: 77.4 (69.2-85.5) vs. post: 83.4 (76.9-89.9), p = 0.002] and pain [pre: 65.4 (52.8-78.1) vs. post: 77.8 (67.2-88.3), p = 0.004]. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in elderly patients reduced oxidative stress and improved the quality of life.