Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Combining Sonography to Explore the Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of a Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program on Cardiorespiratory Endurance and Airway Muscle Function in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multi-factorial sleep disorder. Complete collapse or partial collapse in the airway increases the risk of developing cardiovascular and kidney-related disease in OSA patients. Resulting in an increase in medical expenses and workload for the healthcare worker. Multilevel of upper airway muscles especially the genioglossus muscle showed to contribute to airway obstruction as it fatigues easily. The endurance level of OSA patients was shown to be significantly lower. Therefore, the goal of this experimental study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive respiratory training exercise program on cardiorespiratory endurance, airway muscle function, and sleep parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Aside from exploring the therapeutic effect, the results of the study will be used to explore the mechanism of the treatment in relation to the changes in the OSA severity.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Obstructive Sleep Apnea of Adult
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sleep hygiene education; Other: Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program

Detailed Description

Newly diagnosed OSA subjects, aged 20-65 years old, and with body mass index between 18-30 kg.m-2 will be recruited. The participants will be randomly divided into the control group (sleep hygiene education) and the intervention group (comprehensive respiratory training exercise program). Participants from the intervention group will undergo 3 months of a comprehensive respiratory training exercise program while the control group will be provided sleep hygiene education. Polysomnography (PSG), cardiopulmonary exercise testing, sonography (during the awake stage, functional tasks, Müller's maneuver, and natural sleep), tongue strength and tongue endurance assessment, jaw strength measurement, Computed Tomography (CT), Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE), respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function test, and sleep quality questionnaires will be collected before and after 3 months of intervention.

Expected contribution to clinical medicine

• The feasibility of this comprehensive respiratory training exercise program in improving cardiorespiratory endurance, leading to an increase in the survival rate and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease of OSA patients.
• Based on the ultrasound's findings in the awake stage (normal breathing, functional tasks, and Müller's maneuver) and overnight sleep, allow a better understanding of the effects of these exercises on the changes of tongue and oropharyngeal structures during the static and dynamic stages.
• The practicability of the ultrasound assessment in the clinical setting on OSA patients is to identify the changes in the tongue and oropharyngeal structures. Based on ultrasound image capture, it provides individualized and precise training by modifying the training and providing feedback to OSA patients during their exercise training.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 150
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jun-Hui Ong, MS; Phone Number: +886-9-37839992; Email: junhui.ong611@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD; Phone Number: 5939 +886-6-2353535; Email: chhung@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Tainan, Taiwan, 704
    • Recruiting
    • National Cheng Kung University Hospital
    • Contact: Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD; Phone Number: 5939 06-2353535; Email: chhung@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed with OSA (AHI≥ 5 events per hour)
• Age between 20 to 65 years old
• BMI of 18-30 kg.m-2

Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with any of the following diseases below:

• Central or mixed types of sleep apnea
• Neuromuscular disease
• Severe cardiovascular disease
• Active psychiatric disease
• Head or neck disease or cancer
• Structural abnormalities over the upper respiratory airway
• Performed any operation or treatment over the neck before
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sleep Hygiene Education; Participants will received once per month of sleep hygiene education for three months.	Other: Sleep hygiene education; Sleep hygiene education
Experimental: Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program; Participants will received Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program twice per weeks for three months.	Other: Comprehensive Respiratory Training Exercise Program; This comprehensive respiratory training exercise program consists of four main components, including oropharyngeal muscle training, respiratory muscle training, aerobic exercise, and sleep hygiene education.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)	The apnea-hypopnea index will be obtained from the overnight Polysomnography (PSG) study. PSG will be performed in the sleep center of National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Less than 5 events/hour indicates normal; AHI between 5-14 events/hour indicates mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA); AHI between 15-30 events/hour indicates moderate OSA; and AHI more than 30 events/hour indicates severe OSA.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI)	The average number of desaturation episodes per hour (oxygen desaturation index) will be obtained from the overnight Polysomnography (PSG) study. A decrease in the mean oxygen saturation of ≥4% that lasts for at least 10 seconds indicates an episode of desaturation.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Maximum Oxygen Consumption (Vo2max)	Maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max) will be measured using Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) which will be performed on a static bicycle. The average value of Vo2max in adults is approximately 27-48 mL/kg/min. A greater Vo2max value indicates a better physical fitness level.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Tongue Muscle Thickness	Sonography will be performed over the participant's neck region to assess the changes in tongue muscle thickness during normal breathing, Müller's maneuver, functional tasks, and natural sleep. The data on tongue thickness will be presented in millimeters. A greater value indicates a thicker in tongue.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Tongue Muscle Stiffness	Ultrasound shear-wave elastography will be performed to assess the changes in tongue-based stiffness. The data will be presented in kPa, with a greater value indicating an increase in tongue stiffness. The minimum value is 0 kPa and the maximum value is 220 kPa.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Tongue Muscle Strength	The tongue muscle strength will be measured using an Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) device, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA). The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates stronger in tongue muscle strength.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Tongue Muscle Endurance	The tongue muscle endurance will be measured using an Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) device, model 2.2 (Northwest, Co., LLC, Carnation, WA, USA). The data will be presented in seconds. The longer the duration of holding (more than 10 seconds), the greater in the tongue muscle endurance.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Jaw strength	Jaw strength will be measured using a 'handheld' dynamometer (MicroFET○R2, Hoggan Scientific, USA). The data will be presented in kilogram-weight. The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates stronger in jaw strength.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Pharyngeal Airway Volume	Computer Tomography (CT) will be performed. The pharyngeal airway volume will be calculated from the hard palate to the epiglottis and the data will be presented in cm3. The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates greater in pharyngeal airway volume.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Cross Section Area on the Tip of Epiglottis	Computer Tomography (CT) will be performed. Cross section area on the tip of the epiglottis was measured and the data will be presented in cm2. The minimum score is 0 and a higher score indicates greater in the cross-sectional area of the region.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Anterior to Posterior Distance on the Tip of the Epiglottis	The distance between the anterior and posterior pharyngeal wall on the tip of the epiglottis will be measured and presented in cm. The minimal value will be 0 and the greater value indicates a greater distance between the anterior to posterior in this area.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Lateral Distance on the Tip of Epiglottis	The distance between the lateral distance on the tip of the epiglottis will be measured and presented in cm. The minimal value will be 0 and the greater value indicates a greater distance between the lateral wall.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in daytime sleepiness	Epworth Sleepiness Score(ESS) will be used to measure the daytime sleepiness of OSA patients. The total score of ESS range from 0-24. A score greater than 10 indicates greater daytime sleepiness.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)	The level of obstruction, the degree of obstruction, and the configuration of the obstructive will be identified through the drug-induced sleep endoscopy. The degree of obstruction ranged from 0 to 2. 0: no obstruction; 1: partial obstruction; 2: complete obstruction.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in sleep quality	Sleep quality will be measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).The total score ranges from 0 to 21 with a higher total score equal to or more than 5 indicating worse sleep quality.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (PImax)	For respiratory muscle strength, maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) will be measured using Respiratory Pressure Meter. Data will be presented in cmH2O. The minimal score will be 0, and a higher value indicates stronger in the inspiratory muscle.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Maximal Expiratory Pressure (PEmax)	For respiratory muscle strength, maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) will be measured using Respiratory Pressure Meter. Data will be presented in cmH2O. The minimal score will be 0, and a higher value indicates stronger in the expiratory muscle.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted	The respiratory muscle function on the forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted will be collected using spirometry. The normal value is between 80% to 120%; mild abnormality: is 70-79%; moderate abnormality: is 60-69%; severe abnormality: is less than 60%.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1)/ forced vital capacity(FVC) %	The respiratory muscle function on the Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1)/ forced vital capacity(FVC) will be collected using spirometry. The normal value for the FEV1/FVC % is equal to or greater than 70%; mild abnormality: 60-69%; moderate abnormality: 50-59%; severe abnormality: less than 50%.	Baseline to 3 months (post-training)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cheng-Kung University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD, National Cheng Kung University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 16, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 8, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): February 22, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Apnea
• Other Study ID Numbers: A-BR-111-079

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No