OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen saturation in the patient of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in sleeping and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on this disease. METHODS: Thirty cases with OSAHS were treated with acupuncture at Shanglianquan (Extra), Fengfu (GV 16), Yamen (GV 15), Fengchi (GB 20), etc. 3-5 sessions each week. After treatment of 30 sessions, apneahypopnea index (AHI), mean blood oxygen saturation (MSaO2), the lowest blood oxygen saturation (LSaO2), oxygen desaturation>or = 4% index (ODI4), the mean blood oxygen saturation of oxygen desaturation when SaO2<90%, the longest time of oxygen saturation>or = 4% were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate of acupuncture was 23.3% for OSAHS. After acupuncture, AHI and ODI4 significantly reduced (P<0.01); LSaO2 significantly increased (P<0.01); MSaO2 and the mean blood oxygen saturation of oxygen desaturation when SaO2<90% significantly enhanced (P<0.05); the longest time of oxygen saturation>or = 4% did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: The acupuncture treatment has intervenient effect on OSAHS and alleviates anoxia, so acupuncture is one of therapies improving anoxia in patients of OSAHS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen saturation in the patient of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in sleeping and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on this disease. METHODS: Thirty cases with OSAHS were treated with acupuncture at Shanglianquan (Extra), Fengfu (GV 16), Yamen (GV 15), Fengchi (GB 20), etc. 3-5 sessions each week. After treatment of 30 sessions, apneahypopnea index (AHI), mean blood oxygen saturation (MSaO2), the lowest blood oxygen saturation (LSaO2), oxygen desaturation>or = 4% index (ODI4), the mean blood oxygen saturation of oxygen desaturation when SaO2<90%, the longest time of oxygen saturation>or = 4% were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate of acupuncture was 23.3% for OSAHS. After acupuncture, AHI and ODI4 significantly reduced (P<0.01); LSaO2 significantly increased (P<0.01); MSaO2 and the mean blood oxygen saturation of oxygen desaturation when SaO2<90% significantly enhanced (P<0.05); the longest time of oxygen saturation>or = 4% did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: The acupuncture treatment has intervenient effect on OSAHS and alleviates anoxia, so acupuncture is one of therapies improving anoxia in patients of OSAHS.

RATIONALE: Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, although included in clinical guidelines, no randomized controlled studies have been performed on the effects of weight reduction on mild OSA.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled parallel-group 1-year follow-up study was to determine whether a very low calorie diet (VLCD) with supervised lifestyle counseling could be an effective treatment for adults with mild OSA.

METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive overweight patients (body mass index, 28-40) with mild OSA were recruited. The intervention group (n = 35) completed the VLCD program with supervised lifestyle modification, and the control group (n = 37) received routine lifestyle counseling. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was the main objectively measured outcome variable. Change in symptoms and the 15D-Quality of Life tool were used as subjective measurements.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The lifestyle intervention was found to effectively reduce body weight (-10.7 +/- 6.5 kg; body mass index, -3.5 +/- 2.1 [mean +/- SD]). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean change in AHI between the study groups (P = 0.017). The adjusted odds ratio for having mild OSA was markedly lowered (odds ratio, 0.24 [95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.72]; P = 0.011) in the intervention group. All common symptoms related to OSA, and some features of 15D-Quality of Life improved after the lifestyle intervention. Changes in AHI were strongly associated with changes in weight and waist circumference.

CONCLUSIONS: VLCD combined with active lifestyle counseling resulting in marked weight reduction is a feasible and effective treatment for the majority of patients with mild OSA, and the achieved beneficial outcomes are maintained at 1-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of breathing and physical exercise on pulmonary functions, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS: Twenty patients with mild to moderate OSAS were included in the study either as exercise or control group. The control group did not receive any treatment, whereas the exercise group received exercise training. Exercise program consisting of breathing and aerobic exercises was applied for 1.5 h 3 days weekly for 12 weeks. Two groups were assessed through clinical and laboratory measurements after 12 weeks. In the evaluations, bicycle ergometer test was used for exercise capacity, pulmonary function test, maximal inspiratory-expiratory pressure for pulmonary functions, polysomnography for AHI, sleep parameters, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of sleep and health-related quality of health, Epworth Sleepiness Scale for daytime sleepiness, and anthropometric measurements for anthropometric characteristics.

RESULTS: In the control group, the outcomes prior to and following 12-weeks follow-up period were found to be similar. In the exercise group, no change was found in the anthropometric and respiratory measurements (P>0.05), whereas significant improvements were found in exercise capacity, AHI, and FOSQ and SF-36 (P<0.05). After the follow-up period, it was shown that improvement in the experimental group did not lead to a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise appears not to change anthropometric characteristics and respiratory functions while it improves AHI, health-related quality of life, quality of sleep, and exercise capacity in the patients with mild to moderate OSAS.