title: Oral appliances for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with low C-PAP compliance: a long-term case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) over a long-term follow-up in patients non-compliant with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and to identify potential predictive factors of response to MADs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen OSAS patients were enrolled. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and daytime sleepiness were assessed at baseline and at the end of follow-up. Potential baseline predictors of treatment effectiveness were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AHI and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores improved significantly with MADs. Sixty per cent of patients were 'responders', of whom 33% were 'full responders'. Sixty-seven per cent of patients showed total compliance. No correlations between the potential predictors and the response to MAD therapy were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effectiveness of MAD therapy was shown over a long-term follow-up in OSAS patients with low compliance to CPAP. Efforts to identify predictive success factors fell short.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchese-Ragona
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mion
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staffieri
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guarda-Nardini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: AHI,; C-PAP,; Compliance,; Epworth,; Mandibular advancement devices,; OSAS,; Oral appliances,; PSG