Upper airway stabilization by osteopathic manipulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion versus sham manipulation in OSAS patients: a proof-of-concept, randomized, crossover, double-blind, controlled study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics

N = 9
Age (years)	57 [50; 58]
Gender	7 M/2F
Time since diagnosis (months)	13 [2; 17]
OSAS treatment	CPAP =5; Oral appliance =1; none = 3
AHI (number/h)	31.0 [25.5; 33.2]
AI (number/h)	16.9 [10.8; 19.2]
Time at SpO₂ < 90% (%)	2.8 [0.4; 5.4]
	Before AM	Before SM	p
BMI (kg/m²)	26.2 [24.8; 28.6]	27.0 [25.3; 29.1]	0.29
Neck circumference (cm)	40 [33; 42]	41 [33; 42]	0.93
Epworth sleepiness score (/24)	9 [5; 15]	6 [5; 9]	0.28
Snoring (yes/no/unknown)	5/2/2	6/1/2	0.81
Pcrit^a (cm H₂O)	−21.0 [−26.7; −18.7]	−26.6 [−37.0; −20.2]	0.38
Schirmer’s test (left + right; mm/min)	33 [22; 53]	40 [19; 50]	0.82

OSAS Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, AHI Apnea Hypopnea Index, AI Apnea Index, AM Active manipulation, SM Sham manipulation, BMI Body Mass Index, Pcrit Critical Closing Pressure
^a n = 7; Values are median [quartiles] or number of patients for gender, OSAS treatment and snoring

ISSN: 2662-7671