Short-Term (4 Weeks) Results of the Sleep Position Trainer for Positional Therapy

A limited number of studies focus on decreasing the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea by influencing sleep position. In these studies an object was strapped to the back (tennis balls, special vests) preventing patients from sleeping in supine position. Frequently, this was not successful due to arousals whilst turning from one position to the other, thereby disturbing sleep architecture and sleep quality. In this chapter we present a novel device for treating POSA patients. Patients older than 18 years with mild to moderate POSA slept with the sleep position trainer (SPT), strapped to the chest, for a month. SPT measures the body position and vibrates when the patient lies in supine position. Thirty-one 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 to 0.0 % (p < 0.001). The median AHI decreased from 16.4 to 5.2 (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients developed an overall AHI below five. Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased significantly. Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire increased significantly. Compliance was found to be 100 %.