LAUSR

Mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly common in the VA. The first-line therapies are medical devices worn each night while asleep to control or manage OSA. These devices are burdensome for our patients with mild OSA. Stronger oral musculature can help reduce mild OSA. A new transoral Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) device was recently approved by the US FDA called eXciteOSA (Signifier Medical Technologies, Needham, MA). The eXciteOSA device provides gentle, low-frequency electrical stimulation intraorally to the tongue muscle and is efficacious for mild OSA. A retrospective review of the data of the 71 patients prescribed the eXciteOSA device at the VA San Diego was analyzed. The device is prescribed for use over two phases: (1) one 20-minute session per day over 42 consecutive days and then (2) one 20-minute session on two days out of each week. Respiratory therapists performed 1-2 phone call visits to assess symptoms and address device concerns. 68 of the 71 patients used the device for at least one 20-minute session over the first 42 days. Three patients (4.2%) did not use the device. Adherence was 60% for all 71 patients and 63% for the 68 patients who used it at least once. This means that, on average, our Veteran patients completed one 20-minute session on 25 of the first 42 days. Recent non-Veteran data showed an adherence rate of ~80% (percentage of days with one completed 20-minute session over the first 42 days). Our analysis found an adherence rate of ~60%, suggesting significant room for improvement in eXciteOSA device use in Veterans. Future adherence studies should look at methods to improve device use over the first 42 days. In addition, more research may be needed to understand better what amount of use is efficacious on an individual basis. Some patients may obtain an adequate response with fewer sessions, while others may need more. It is unknown which endotypes of OSA most benefit from NMES, but further research is ongoing. VA RR&D D2651-R and the Sleep Medicine Section of the VA San Diego Healthcare System supported this project.