Myofunctional therapy for OSA: a meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical intervention studies.
PubMed 34753369 · doi:10.1080/17476348.2021.2001332
What was done
Systematic review and meta-analysis searching databases through 18 June 2021 to evaluate myofunctional therapy (MT) as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Outcomes analyzed before and after MT included apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).
What was found
Fifteen studies with 237 patients were analyzed: - AHI decreased from 28.0 ± 16.2/h to 18.6 ± 13.1/h (standardized mean difference [SMD] -1.34, 95% CI -0.84 to -1.85, P < 0.00001). - LSAT (197 patients) increased from 83.18 ± 6.10% to 85.13 ± 7.01% (SMD 0.44, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.75, P < 0.007). - ESS scores (156 patients) decreased from 12.71 ± 5.73 to 8.78 ± 5.80 (SMD -1.0, 95% CI -0.50 to -1.50, P < 0.0001).
Why it matters
Synthesizes evidence showing that oropharyngeal myofunctional exercises improve objective severity metrics and subjective daytime sleepiness in OSA.
Limits
Total sample size is small (237 patients across 15 studies, average ~16 patients per study). Comparisons are pre- versus post-intervention rather than randomized control comparisons in the pooled effect estimates. Abstract does not report adherence rates, patient age range, long-term maintenance, or protocol standardization.
Cited by
- partial Targeted exercises for the back of the throat and tongue muscles can dramatically open airways to resolve sleep apnea.