Effects of Orofacial Myofuncional Therapy on snoring of patients with primary snoring and mild to moderate OSA

Snoring is generated by pharyngeal obstruction and vibration during sleep. Snoring is extremely common and may cause severe social problems and may indicate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, there are no standardized methods for measuring snoring and the treatment of primary snoring or snoring associated with mild forms of OSA is controversial. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy consists of isometric and isotonic exercises directed to tongue and soft palate for the treatment of moderated OSA. However, the effects of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy on snoring were not objectively measured. OBJECTIVES: Primary: to determine the efficiency of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy in reducing snoring of patients with primary snoring, mild and moderated OSA. Secondary: to develop a methodology to objectively quantify snoring; to assess the relation of snoring characteristics with OSA severity; to assess the effect of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy upon the perception of snoring and sleep quality of the bed partner. METHODS: We included patients of both genders aged between 20 to 65 years old with polissomnographyc diagnoses of primary snoring, mild or moderated OSA. Patients were randomized for treatment with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy or Control (use of nasal dilator strips and respiratory exercises) for 3 months. All patients were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study by questionnaires (Epworth, Pittsburgh), orofacial motricity assessment and complete polysomnography with the register of snoring. Bed partners assessed snoring and their own sleep quality (Pittsburgh). RESULTS: Thirty nine patients aged (mean ± standard deviation) =46 ± 13 yeas old and body mass index (BMI) (mean ± standard deviation) = 28,2 ± 3,1 Kg/m2, apnea hypopnea index (AHI)= 15,3 ± 9,3 events/hour, being 6 patients with primary snoring, 17 with mild OSA and 16 with moderated OSA completed the study. No significant change occurred in the Control Group in all variables. In contrast, patients treated with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy presented (as compared to baseline) a significant decrease (p<0.05) in neck circumference (38,0 [36,4–39,5] vs. 37,5 [36,0–39,0] cm), Orofacial Motricity Assessment (37,0 [23,0–42,0] vs. 19 [13,0-24,0]), Snoring Index (99,5 [49,6-221,3] vs. 48,2 [25,5-219,2]) and Total Snoring (60,4 [21,8-220,6] vs. 31,0 [10,1-146,5]). Bed partners of patients treated with Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (n=13) reported a significant improvement in the perceived intensity (4,0 [2,5-4,0]) vs. 1,0 [1,0-2,0]) and snoring frequency (4,0 [3,0-4,0] vs. 2,0 [1,5-3,0]). Sleep quality of bed partners also improved but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0618). Snoring Index and Total Snoring at basal and after 3 months presented a moderated correlation to OSA severity, measured by AHI (r between 0,505 to 0,603). CONCLUSIONS: Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy for 3 months is effective in reducing objectively measured snoring frequency and intensity. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can be effective for a great number of the population who present primary snoring or mild OSA forms.