The effect of oral appliance therapy on glycemic control in Type II diabetic patients with obstructive sleep apnea : a pilot randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the literature supports a strong link between OSA and glucose dysregulation. However, current randomized trials assessing the effect of OSA treatment on metabolic outcomes have been limited to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, and one of the main limitations of these studies is poor compliance. A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is an alternative treatment option for OSA that is generally better tolerated and accepted by patients than CPAP.  Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate if 3 months of treatment with a MAD will improve glycemic control in patients with OSA and T2DM as compared to a Placebo Device. Secondary objectives will be: 1) to evaluate the feasibility of a MAD to treat sleep apnea in a diabetic population, 2) to compare subjective side effects of the MAD and Placebo Device, 3) to compare subjective changes in quality of life and sleep with both devices, and 4) to compare subjective and objective compliance in both groups. Methods: 17 patients participated in this randomized controlled pilot study, comparing treatment of OSA using a MAD (Somnodent, n=7) and a placebo device (mandibular Essix, n=10). Blood samples measuring glycemic control by glycated hemoglobin levels were collected before and after treatment. Three polysomnographies were performed (at baseline, after a 2-month titration period and after a 3-month treatment period). All patients answered a side-effects questionnaire after the titration period, and the following questionnaires were compared before (V1), during (V4) and after treatment (V6): Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Patients recorded subjective compliance in a daily journal, and objective compliance was measured by a microchip. Results: No significant difference was found in glycated hemoglobin levels between groups (p=0.75). The MAD group showed a significant decrease in OSA as measured by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (p=0.02) and the Oxygen Desaturation Index (p=0.02). No significant difference was found when comparing Side Effects Questionnaires between groups, more specifically for discomfort in jaws (p=0.15) and changes in occlusion (p=0.41). Frequency of complications were low in both groups and showed no significant differences (p=1.00). Overall patient satisfaction was high in both groups and showed no significant differences (p=1.00). Both groups showed significant improvements in FOSQ scores (p=0.004 between V1-4, and p=0.026 between V1-6), significant decreases in ESS (p= 0.023 between V1-4), significant decreases in Anxiety scores (p=0.003 between V1-4, and p=0.041 between V1-6), as well as a significant decrease in Depression scores (p=0.025 between V1-6).  Patients in the MAD group significantly over-reported their subjective compliance as compared to the objective compliance measured by a microchip (p=0.02). Conclusion: MAD is a feasible treatment for OSA in patients with T2DM as it was able to significantly improve OSA while demonstrating high overall satisfaction and minimal complications. A strong “placebo effect” was noted with the Placebo Device and reinforces the importance of randomized and controlled studies in the field of OSA treatment. Microchips to measure objective compliance should be used as they offer more reliable data than subjective records. Further large-scale randomized and controlled trials are required, as well as future analyses of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems which may allow for more precise evaluation of glycemic outcomes;  investigating possible metabolic phenotypes in patients which may respond better to OSA treatment will be important.

Keyphrases: Obstructive sleep apnea, Type II diabetes mellitus, Glucose dysregulation, Mandibular advancement device, Placebo device, Compliance