A peer-reviewed study in the February issue of Sleep Medicine found that Provent Sleep Apnea Therapy, a noninvasive, disposable nasal device, improved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—as measured by the number of breathing disruptions during sleep—in more than half of patients, leading them to feel more alert during the day. The study was conducted in patients who either had refused or were noncompliant with CPAP therapy.
The study, conducted at St Luke’s Hospital Sleep Medicine and Research Center in Chesterfield, Mo, included 59 patients and is titled "A convenient expiratory positive airway pressure nasal device for the treatment of sleep apnea in patients non-adherent with continuous positive airway pressure."
Provent Therapy was accepted by 80% of patients who were not using CPAP regularly or were untreated. The study also found that Provent Therapy improved blood oxygen saturation and resulted in less daytime sleepiness as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Treated patients reported feeling less sleepy during the day and having better quality of life. Patients who completed the study reported using Provent Therapy more than 90% of total sleep hours, representing very high treatment adherence.
"CPAP therapy is the standard of care for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, but a large percentage of patients are not able to tolerate it and express dissatisfaction with their treatment options,” said James K. Walsh, PhD, executive director of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center. “The data from this study indicate that the Provent device is a beneficial treatment for approximately 40% of patients who are unwilling or unable to tolerate CPAP therapy.
"These findings are significant as millions of people in the United States are currently not being treated for their OSA,” added Walsh, who is also president of the Sleep Research Society. “As these people go untreated, they are at higher risk of serious conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attacks."
