Long-term use of a nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) device as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the long-term durability of treatment response and safety of a nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label extension to a 3-month EPAP vs sham randomized clinical trial SETTING: 13 sites including both academic and private sleep disorder centers PATIENTS: OSA patients in the EPAP arm of the EPAP vs sham randomized study who used the EPAP device ≥ 4 h per night, ≥ 5 nights per week on average during months 1 and 2 of the 3-month trial and had ≥ 50% reduction in AHI or AHI reduction to < 10 documented by polysomnography, comparing the 3-month device-on PSG to the week-one device-off PSG. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with a nasal EPAP device (N = 41) for 12 months. Polysomnography (PSG) on the patients wearing the device was performed after 12 months of treatment. The month 12 device-on PSG data from the analyzable subject cohort (N = 34) was compared to the week 1 device-off PSG from the EPAP vs sham trial. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Of the 51 patients eligible, 34 were still using the EPAP device at the end of 12 months. Median AHI was reduced from 15.7 to 4.7 events/h (week 1 device-off versus month 12 device-on). The decrease in the AHI (median) was 71.3% (p < 0.001). The median proportion of sleep time with snoring was reduced by 74.4% (p < 0.001). Over 12 months of EPAP treatment, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased (11.1 ± 4.2 to 6.0 ± 3.2, p < 0.001), and the median percentage of reported nights used (entire night) was 89.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal EPAP significantly reduced the AHI, improved subjective daytime sleepiness and reduced snoring after 12 months of treatment. Long-term adherence to EPAP was excellent in those who had a positive clinical response at month 3 of the EPAP vs sham study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov TRIAL NAME: Extension Study of Original Protocol AERO C009 for Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea (AERO C009E). URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00849043?term=Ventus+Medical&rank=2. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00849043.