title: The sleep position trainer: a new treatment for positional obstructive sleep apnoea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positional obstructive sleep apnoea (POSA), defined as a supine apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) twice or more as compared to the AHI in the other positions, occurs in 56 % of obstructive sleep apnoea patients. Positional therapy (PT) is one of several available treatment options for these patients. So far, PT has been hampered by compliance problems, mainly because of the usage of bulky masses placed in the back. In this article, we present a novel device for treating POSA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients older than 18 years with mild to moderate POSA slept with the Sleep Position Trainer (SPT), strapped to the chest, for a period of 29 ± 2 nights. SPT measures the body position and vibrates when the patient lies in supine position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six patients were included; 31 patients (mean age, 48.1 ± 11.0 years; mean body mass index, 27.0 ± 3.7 kg/m(2)) completed the study protocol. The median percentage of supine sleeping time decreased from 49.9 % [20.4-77.3 %] to 0.0 % [range, 0.0-48.7 %] (p < 0.001). The median AHI decreased from 16.4 [6.6-29.9] to 5.2 [0.5-46.5] (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients developed an overall AHI below five. Sleep efficiency did not change significantly. Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased significantly. Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire increased significantly. Compliance was found to be 92.7 % [62.0-100.0 %].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sleep Position Trainer applied for 1 month is a highly successful and well-tolerated treatment for POSA patients, which diminishes subjective sleepiness and improves sleep-related quality of life without negatively affecting sleep efficiency. Further research, especially on long-term effectiveness, is ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.vanmaanen@slaz.nl
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Maanen
authors.forename: Kristel A W
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meester
authors.forename: Lideke N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Dun
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koutsourelakis
authors.forename: Birgit I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: D Martin
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Laman
authors.forename: Antonius A J
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hilgevoord
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016683:Supine Position; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*