Drug-induced sleep endoscopy improves intervention efficacy among patients treated for obstructive sleep apnea with a mandibular advancement device

Purpose To compare the short-term treatment effect of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) with and without previous drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) on polysomnography (PSG) and other sleep apnea–related treatment outcomes (Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] and Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) among adults with mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that using DISE would improve the efficacy of MADs on the sleep apnea parameters. Methods The study sample consisted of patients with OSA who were unable or unwilling to tolerate a CPAP device, divided into an experimental (with DISE) and a control (without DISE) group. Results Of 50 patients with OSA, 40 men (80%), mean age was 48.8 ± 12,3 years. The mean apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) score of both groups decreased significantly between baseline and the 8-week follow-up titration PSG with MAD in situ, from 31.7 ± 17.3 (mean ± SD) apnea–hypopnea episodes/h to 7.0 ± 6.4/h ( p < 0.0001) in the experimental group, and from 22.5 ± 16.6 episodes/h to 11.4 ± 8.0/h ( p < 0.024) in the control group. Capillary oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) levels did not change significantly between the two timepoints for either group. The SF-36 ( p < 0.023) and ESS ( p < 0.036) results of both groups improved significantly between baseline and the 8-week follow-up after starting MAD treatment; however, the improvement in quality of life was significantly more pronounced in the experimental group than in the control group ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion DISE provides a significant benefit to patients with OSA undergoing MAD treatment. It can be used as a valuable prediction tool in clinical practice for the management of patients with OSA, even those with moderate and severe disease.