New mHealth application software based on myofunctional therapy applied to sleep-disordered breathing in non-compliant subjects

Abstract

Background

Myofunctional therapy (MT) is a therapeutic option with demonstrated efficacy for treating sleep-disordered breathing. We assessed the clinical application of a newly developed m-Health App, which aimed to allow patients with OSAHS (obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome) to perform oropharyngeal exercises only by interacting with their smartphone without no other devices.

Methods

We offered to treat the OSAHS of 20 patients with the App for 90 sessions. Inclusion criteria were adult patients diagnosed with OSAHS who rejected, or could not tolerate or afford treatment for their OSAHS with other modalities. The App was used by 15 patients, while 5 were noncompliant and then were used as a control group. Polygraphy was performed at the beginning of the study, and after 90 sessions in the App group or after 3 months in the control group. Data for adherence to treatment, sex, body mass index (BMI), age, O_2MIN (oxygen minimal saturation) and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) were collected for both groups.

Results

15 (75%) patients showed adherence to the treatment as measured as performing the exercises daily 5 days a week. In patients who performed the exercises, AHI decreased from 25.78 ± 12.6 to 14.1 ± 7,7 (p = 0.002), Epworth changed from 18,2 ± 1,98 to 14,2 ± 7,7(p = 0,002) and (O_2MIN) changed from 84,87 ± 7.02 to 89,27 ± 3,77 (p = 0.0189). In the control group, there was no significant change.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study reported where a mHealth App based on MT could be by itself a therapeutic option in selected patients with OSAHS.