Sleep apnea: Mouthguards less invasive, just as effective as CPAP

The Nugget

Mouthguards have been found to be as effective as CPAP machines in reducing high blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Key quotes

"“The MAD patients simply used the device longer," Chi-Hang said. "That also might explain why the blood pressure reduction at nighttime, when the patients are actually using it, had a better reduction in the MAD arm.”"
"People should be aware that over 400 million people globally have moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and it is underdiagnosed and may be a contributing factor to their high blood pressure."
"MAD appliances do not encourage mouth breathing. They position the mandible and tongue in a more anterior position thereby opening the airway."

A study compared the effectiveness of mouthguards (MAD) and CPAP machines in reducing hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
Mouthguards were found to significantly reduce 24-hour mean blood pressure compared to CPAP, with a larger reduction, especially in nighttime blood pressure.
More participants in the mouthguard group achieved a systolic BP below 120 mmHg, showing the effectiveness of mouthguards in treating high blood pressure associated with OSA.

Over half of the patients using mouthguards were observed to use the device for six or more hours each night, showing better adherence compared to CPAP users.
Adherence rates to the recommended usage duration were similar between the two groups, but the mouthguard group showed more consistent and longer usage patterns.

For patients who have difficulty tolerating CPAP, mouthguards can be a viable alternative for managing OSA and reducing high blood pressure.
Further studies are planned to explore the cognitive impacts of using mouthguards and CPAP devices, with a focus on more diverse populations to ensure generalizability of the results.

💤 MADs (mouthguards) can effectively reduce high blood pressure in OSA patients, providing a non-invasive alternative to CPAP machines.
🦷 Mouthguards position the mandible and tongue to keep the airway open, leading to better adherence and improved nighttime blood pressure reduction.
🩺 Over 400 million people globally have moderate-to-severe OSA, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment for related health conditions.

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.