The severity of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has a tendency to increase with age. The purpose of this study was to explore whether oral appliance (OA) treatment can block this age-related change.

This study was a retrospective study. Fifteen patients (12 males,3 females) of OSAHS treated with OA were selected as treatment group,with an average age of (47.44±10.00) years and initial body mass index (BMI) of (26.31±3.33) kg/m². The follow-up length was 54 [22, 100] months. Nineteen patients (13 males,6 females) with untreated OSAHS served as controls, with an average age of (45.00±9.26) years and initial BMI of (25.53±2.58) kg/m²,and the follow-up length was 35 [26,63] months. There were no significant differences in terms of gender,age,initial BMI, apnea hypopnea index(AHI), and follow-up length between the two groups. Polysomnography(PSG) data for the two groups were compared to observe the sleep respiratory function changes as aging by Wilcoxon test.

There was no significant difference in BMI of the treatment group and the control group at the time of follow-up, with BMI of treatment group from (26.31±3.33) kg/m² to (25.67±3.65) kg/m²,Z=-1.223,P=0.221; and BMI of control group from (25.53±2.58) kg/m² to (25.12±2.72) kg/m²,Z=-1.193,P=0.233. There was no significant difference in the change of AHI within the treatment group, from 26.20 [11.50, 52.98]/h to 23.10 [16.00, 45.00]/h, Z=-0.284, P=0.776; AHI in the control group was higher than that at the first visit, and the AHI increased from 15.00 [10.72, 28.90]/h to 31.10 [13.00, 41.80]/h, Z=-3.481, P<0.001. The longest apnea duration was not statistically different in the treatment group, from 60.00 [56.40, 74.00] s to 63.00 [52.00, 77.00] s, Z=-0.345, P=0.730; the longest apnea duration in the control group increased from 42.00 [34.00, 56.70] s to 46.00 [37.00,62.00] s,Z=-2.274,P=0.023. There was no significant difference in the lowest blood oxygen saturation of the treatment group and the control group, with the treatment group from 72.47%±12.69% to 72.73%±17.59%, Z=-0.597, P=0.550; and the control group from 78.21%±9.30% to 76.42%±12.17%, Z=-0.153, P=0.879.

Symptoms of sleep apnea in OSAHS patients tend to increase with age,and oral appliance treatment may have the effect of slowing down this age-related worsening effect.

Sleep apnea, obstructive; Age factors; Oral appliance