Methods: 85 OSA patients (19 females and 66 males, mean age 46.3 y/o, mean baseline AHI: 29.2) were treated with mandible advancing OA. 3 months after OA delivery, the 2nd PSG was performed with the OA in situ to monitor the treatment outcomes.
Results: By wearing the OA, the AHI value was reduced in 74 patients, but got worse in 11 patients. For these 11 worsen patients, 5 of them shared the following common features, namely female, over 50 (mean age: 57.6 y/o), and with mild baseline AHI (mean AHI: 11.4). With respect to percentage of AHI reduction, about 2/3 (12/17) of the mild OSA patients the AHI values were reduced less than 50% or became worse. However, OA could yield an over-50% AHI reduction in the great majority of patients with baseline AHI between 20 and 50.
Conclusions: Mandible advancing oral appliance seems not to be effective in reducing the AHI value in mild cases. However, it seems to be especially effective in reducing the apnea/hypopnea index in moderate and even certain severe OSA patients.