Zusammenfassung
Fragestellung
Die kontinuierliche positive Druckatmung (CPAP) hat sich als hocheffektiv in der Behandlung des Schlafapnoesyndroms (OSAS) erwiesen. Dennoch suchen zahlreiche Patienten nach Möglichkeiten, die CPAP-Therapie durch andere Verfahren zu ersetzen. In einer placebokontrollierten, doppelblinden Studie konnte gezeigt werden, dass unter Training der Zungenmuskulatur mittels elektrischer Neurostimulation eine signifikante Verbesserung des Schnarchens zu erzielen war. In der hier vorgelegten Studie sollte nun überprüft werden, ob die Therapie auch bei OSAS, gemessen an der Anzahl von Respondern im Vergleich zu Placebo effektiv ist.
Patienten und Methodik
67 Patienten (AHI 10–40/h) wurden eingeschlossen, 57 Patienten beendeten die Studie. Sie nutzten das Training zweimal täglich für je 20 Minuten über acht Wochen. Response wurde als Verminderung des AHI auf Werte unter 10/h, verbunden mit klinischer Beschwerdebesserung, definiert.
Ergebnisse
Im Mittel war eine Verbesserung des AHI nicht nachzuweisen. Unter Verum fanden sich 6, unter Placebo keine Responder (P<0,01). Der Basis-AHI lag bei allen Respondern <25/h. Bei den Respondern wurde das Schnarchen um mehr als 50% vermindert (Basis 66,4±20,4 Epochen/h, nach Stimulation 28,4±24,5 Epochen/h, P<0,05), die tiefste Sauerstoffsättigung verbessert (Basis 82,2±4,7%, nach Training 87,4±3,6%, P<0,05) und die Gesamtzahl der Arousals sowie der respiratorisch bedingten Arousals reduziert.
Schlussfolgerung
Das Zungenmuskeltraining kann nicht generell als Alternative zur CPAP-Therapie empfohlen werden. Es fand sich jedoch eine relevante Verbesserung bei 19% der Patienten mit mildem Schlafapnoesyndrom (AHI≤25/h).
Summary
Question of the study
Although continuous positive airway pressure is the treatment of choice in OSAS, compliance is not as good as might be expected. Electrical neurostimulation of the upper airway muscles as an alternative therapy option has proven effective in the treatment of snoring. We now address the question of whether tongue muscle training improves OSAS, measured by the number of responders, as compared to placebo.
Patients and methods
Sixty-seven patients with an apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) of 10–40/h were included; 57 completed the study. They practiced tongue muscle training during the daytime for 20 min twice a day for 8 weeks. Treatment response was defined as a reduction of the AHI to <10/h with improvement of clinical symptoms.
Results
There was no significant change in the AHI or the sleep profile either under placebo or stimulation. In the subgroup of treated patients with a baseline AHI<25/h, there were six patients (none under placebo, P<0.01) whose AHI decreased to less than 10/h. Moreover, significant improvements in snoring by 58.7±29.8% (baseline: 66.4±20.4 epochs/h; after training: 28.4±24.5 epochs/h, P<0.05), in minimal oxygen saturation (baseline: 82.2±4.7%; after training: 87.4±3.6% P<0.05) and in number of arousals were found in the responder subgroup.
Conclusions
Although tongue muscle training cannot generally be recommended, the method has proven to be effective in snoring and in terms of the AHI in 19% of patients with mild sleep apnoea.
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Randerath, W.J., Galetke, W., Domanski, U. et al. Zungenmuskeltraining durch Elektrostimulation in der Therapie des obstruktiven Schlafapnoesyndroms. Somnologie 8, 14–19 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-054X.2003.00012.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-054X.2003.00012.x
Schlüsselwörter
- obstruktive Schlafapnoe
- CPAP
- Positivdruck-Atmung
- laryngeale Muskulatur
- Elektrostimulation
- transkutane elektrische Nervenstimulation