Daytime Neuromuscular Electrical Therapy of Tongue Muscles in Improving Snoring in Individuals with Primary Snoring and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Main Authors: Peter M. Baptista, Paula Martínez Ruiz de Apodaca, Marina Carrasco, Secundino Fernandez, Phui Yee Wong, Henry Zhang, Amro Hassaan, Bhik Kotecha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: neuromuscular electrical stimulation; tongue; snoring; decibels; sleep; tolerability
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/9/1883

<b>Study Objectives:</b> Evaluating daytime neuromuscular electrical training (NMES) of tongue muscles in individuals with Primary Snoring and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). <b>Methods:</b> A multicenter prospective study was undertaken in patients with primary snoring and mild sleep apnea where daytime NMES (eXciteOSA^® Signifier Medical Technologies Ltd, London W6 0LG, UK) was used for 20 min once daily for 6 weeks. Change in percentage time spent snoring was analyzed using a two-night sleep study before and after therapy. Participants and their bed partners completed sleep quality questionnaires: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the bed partners reported on the nighttime snoring using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). <b>Results:</b> Of 125 patients recruited, 115 patients completed the trial. Ninety percent of the study population had some reduction in objective snoring with the mean reduction in the study population of 41% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Bed partner-reported snoring reduced significantly by 39% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). ESS and total PSQI scores reduced significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) as well as bed partner PSQI (<i>p</i> = 0.017). No serious adverse events were reported. <b>Conclusions:</b> Daytime NMES (eXciteOSA^®) is demonstrated to be effective at reducing objective and subjective snoring. It is associated with effective improvement in patient and bed partner sleep quality and patient daytime somnolence. Both objective and subjective measures demonstrated a consistent improvement. Daytime NMES was well tolerated and had minimal transient side effects.