Effects of Myofunctional Therapy With an Application in Severe Apnea/Hypopnea Sleep Obstructive Syndrome (MTASSAOS)

INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has become one of the more serious health problems worldwide (Mendes et al., 2014). Because of its relationship with obesity, its prevalence and incidence have increased. It is associated with morbidities such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The classic treatment of this disease is based on dietary measures, weight loss, and exercise, and the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

Myofunctional therapy (MT) is one of the newest treatments for sleep-disordered breathing (Camacho et al., 2015). MT is based on daily exercises using the oropharyngeal muscles in an attempt to strength them and facilitate opening of the airway. OSAHS originates from the suboptimal function of the dilator muscles of the airway. Therefore, MT is a therapy designed theoretically to deal with the underlying mechanism of this disease (Korhan et al., 2015). MT is based on oropharyngeal exercises described by diagrams, videos, and weekly instructions from a myofunctional therapist. The patient is instructed to perform the exercises regularly, for at least 3 months, and for 30 min daily. In some cases, patients perform exercises by themselves at home without substantial feedback and without giving precise information to the therapist about their performance of the exercises (O'Connor et al., 2019).

Most existing mobile health (mHealth) apps for OSAHS focus on diagnosis of snoring or OSAHS (Isetta et al., 2017), while a few are designed to promote adherence to treatment with CPAP (Camacho et al., 2015). To our knowledge, there are no apps that focus on the treatment of OSAHS. However, mobile technology could be especially valuable in treating OSAHS patients because of its potential to promote patient empowerment and self-management (Iftikhar et al., 2017).

One of the best treatments for OSAHS is exercise and weight loss (Iftikhar et al., 2018). Because patients' time is limited, the investigators consider that there will be a greater probability of their performing the exercises if they are able to do wherever and whatever. Therefore, the investigators designed and developed a novel mHealth app to promote oropharyngeal exercises while interacting with a smartphone. In this prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial, the investigators aim to evaluate adherence to the app and its effectiveness in a group of patients (AirwayGym group, AGG) with severe OSAHS compared with a control group (CG) of similar patients.

HYPOTHESIS The regular use of the AirwayGym app, which is designed to perform and increase adherence to MT, will improve OSAHS in patients with severe disease ,apnea hypopnea index (AHI)>30) by increasing the tone of their upper airway muscles.

OBJECTIVES The main objective will be to study the evolution of the use of the app based on MT in patients diagnosed with severe OSAHS.

Secondary Objectives:

1. To evaluate the influence of MT using an app on the change in the AHI in patients diagnosed with severe OSAHS.
2. To evaluate O2 nadir and O2 desaturation index.
3. To use scores obtained using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) to evaluate the tone of genioglossus and buccinator muscles.
4. To evaluate subjective morning somnolence and sleep quality score using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

METHODS Design: Prospective controlled quasi-experimental clinical trial in patients with severe OSAHS (AHI>30). Study population: Patients recently diagnosed with severe OSAHS who agree to participate in this clinical trial.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of use of the app in performing MT in patients with severe OSAHS will be performed using the longitudinal values obtained during study, based on the percentage of improvement in the AHI observed during follow-up. This percentage has been calculated from results reported in previous MT studies published and presented in the bibliography. To achieve a confidence level of 95% and power of 80% with an estimated improvement of the AHI of 60%, the required sample size is 30 patients (15 AirwayGym group [AGG], 15 CG).

Randomization will be based on the consecutive order of patient enrollment, with odd numbers allocated to the AGG (patients treated with the app) and even numbers to the CG (patients without complementary therapy).

Patients without a smartphone will be directly recruited to the CG. VARIABLES EVALUATED: Age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (belly button height), neck circumference, IOPI lingual and buccinator, AHI, O2 desaturation index, and O2 nadir.

Questionnaires: Friedman stage, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index PROCEDURE The AGG will use the app, which was created in a collaboration between the Sleep Units of Hospital Quirónsalud Marbella and Campo de Gibraltar. The novelty of this app is that it is the first in the healthcare market in which the patient can interact directly with the smartphone; the phone provides acoustic feedback about the efficacy of the exercises performed and is focused on sleep apnea disease and improving proprioceptive deficits. The app includes nine exercises based on MT that attempt to enhance the tonicity of the various muscles involved in the pathogenesis of OSAHS. Before every exercise, an animated demonstration and a video show the patient how to perform the exercise. At the conclusion of each exercise, the patient receives feedback about the success of their performance via a point score. When the patient finishes the exercises, they are saved in the cloud and a therapist can evaluate the performance of them. A chat function is available where patient can contact the therapist.

This app complies with regulation 2002/58/Community European (CE) and (UE) 2016/679 concerning data protection.

The main objective of these exercises is to increase the tone of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue.

The exercises are based on those described elsewhere (Guimaraes et al., 2009), adapted to obtain feedback with the phone and to stimulate proprioceptive sensors with acoustic feedback.

For hygiene reasons, it is recommended that participants cover the screen with cling film during all exercises.

The CG does not use any therapy for OSAHS for 3 months. All patients will attend hospital once a month for measurement of the variables (weight, height, BMI, neck and waist circumference, completion of the questionnaires, IOPI scores)

Schedule of visits:

SELECTION VISIT Patients with newly diagnosed severe OSAHS based on home or laboratory polygraphy with measures of AHI, O2 saturation, and O2 nadir were evaluated. All sleep studies were manually interpreted by a sleep technician according to the standard criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events, and were reviewed by certified physicians. Information about inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluation of the type of smartphone used, previous experience with the app, and the study protocol was provided. After any questions were resolved, the patient agreed to participate and signed informed consent (IC).

INITIAL VISIT Participants were evaluated by an Ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist and underwent pharyngoscopy, rhinofibrolaryngoscopy, Friedman staging, Marchesani protocol, and examination of their temporomandibular joint dysfunction. If the patient presented with tonsillitis grade IV, complete nose obstruction, ankyloglossia, or problems with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, they were excluded from the study.

SECOND VISIT: Variables were measured (weight, height, BMI, neck and waist circumference, completion of questionnaires, IOPI scores) and randomization was performed to AGG or CG. Participants in the AGG were instructed about the use of the app and the exercises to do.

FOLLOW-UP VISITS:

AGG: Participants performed exercises daily for about 20 min. Follow-up visits occurred after 1 month (visit 3) and 3 months (visit 4). At these visits, variables were measured, questionnaires completed, and exercise performance checked.

CG: Follow-up visits occurred after 1 month (visit 3) and 3 months (visit 4). At these visits, variables were measured, questionnaires completed, and it was checked that no other therapies are being followed.

Final visit: At 3 months for both groups. At this visit, questionnaires were completed, variables were measured again, and laboratory or in-home polygraphy was performed. The total study duration for each participant was 3 months.

DISCONTINUATION CRITERIA

A participant in either group was excluded from the study if:

1. They did not perform exercises during at least 85% of the scheduled sessions,or were lost to follow-up because they did not attend hospital visits.
2. They lost 5% of their body weight during study participation. Data were collected in a database. Nominal variables were described by their frequency distribution. Quantitative variables were assessed by calculating the arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Baseline characteristics of the two groups of participants with OSAHS were compared by two-tailed paired t tests for continuous variables and chi-squared or Fisher's exact test for nominal variables. For variables with skewed distribution, the investigators performed Mann-Whitney tests. In addition, the investigators performed Pearson correlation analysis of changes in AHI compared with changes in possible explanatory variables, including BMI and neck and waist circumference. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

The main outcome measures are polygraphy findings at the beginning and end of the study, IOPI scores at the beginning and end of the study, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at all visits, weight in kg, height in cm, BMI in kg/m2, and neck and waist circumference in cm at all visits.

ETHICAL APPROVAL After evaluating and revising the protocol, the Investigation Ethical Committee (EC) from Costa del Sol approved the study with the code AWGAPN-2019-01. Before starting the trial, all participants had to have signed and dated all IC approved by the EC.

Access to data and data protection. To ensure confidentiality of study data, the original data were stored in the Hospital and only the investigators and the Investigation EC had access.

UTILITY This app could improve participants' AHI and quality of life and reduce their clinical symptoms and need for treatment.