Patient Selection for Efficacious Mandibular Advancement Device Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Institutional Outcomes Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are a treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS); however, the ideal patient selection criteria continue to be refined.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the overall efficacy of a custom titratable MAD in treating a subset of OSAHS patients. A secondary objective was to determine predictive factors affecting treatment outcome for MAD therapy.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a single otolaryngologist's (DCU) experience in 86 patients with Friedman Stages 2 to 4 treated with a MAD (Thornton Adjustable Positioner) at an academic medical center.

RESULTS

Therapeutic success as measured by type 3 home apnea test (HSAT) before and after proper MAD titration was defined as a 50% reduction in initial AHI or reduction of AHI to a mild severity below 15 events/hour. The 50% AHI reduction rate after MAD titration was 64% and the overall success rate inclusive of patients with reduction below 15 events/hour was 72.1%. MAD therapy significantly reduced the mean AHI (-10.4 ± 12.6),  < .001) and improved the minimum oxygen saturation (1.88 ± 5.79,  = .003). Significant reduction of OSAHS severity was seen across all treatment groups regardless of initial OSAHS severity: mild (55.9%), moderate (85%), severe (75%;  < .001 for all 3 groups). High BMI, advanced age, concentric velopharyngeal collapse pattern, prior pharyngeal surgery, and male sex were not statistically significant predictors of ineffectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

MAD therapy for OSAHS in patients with Friedman Stages 2 to 4 is an effective treatment in 72% of cases and should be considered as an initial treatment option within this subset of patients, inclusive of those with initially severe, moderate, and mild OSAHS.