Nasal Involvement in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Table 3

Studies on nasal dilators for treatment of sleep disorders.

Study	Patients	Study design, intervention	Results	Commentaries
Bahammam et al., 1999 [46]	18 snorers, mean AHI: 8.9	Cross-sectional, Breathe Right versus placebo	Improvement on desaturation time and sleep architecture. No difference in AHI or arousal index.	Nasal dilation increased nasal cross-section area. No information regarding snoring.
Pevernagie et al., 2000 [47]	12 snorers, mean AHI: 6, chronic rhinitis and nasal obstruction	Cross-sectional, Breathe Right versus placebo	Reduction of snoring. No difference in AHI, sleep architecture, or arousal index.	Nasal dilation significantly decreased nasal resistance.
Djupesland et al., 2001 [48]	18 snorers, mean AHI: 9.3, nocturnal nasal obstruction	Cross-sectional, Breathe Right versus placebo	No difference in O2 saturation, snoring, or sleep architecture. Increase of AHI.	Nasal dilation increased cross-sectional area and nasal volume.
Schönhofer et al., 2003 [49]	38 OSAS, in use of CPAP, mean AHI: 17.1	Cross-sectional, Nozovent versus placebo	CPAP pressure reduction. No difference in AHI or O2 saturation.	Nasal dilation was not controlled by objective or subjective measures.
Hoijer et al., 1992 [50]	10 OSAS, mean AHI: 18	Cross-sectional, Nozovent versus placebo	Reduction of snoring and O2 saturation. No improvement on hypersomnolence.	Nasal dilation increased nasal airflow.

AHI: apnea-hypopnea index; OSAS: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure.