Faculty Sponsor

Jana Stedman

College

College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)

Department/Program

Physician Assistant Program

ORCID Identifier(s)

0009-0003-5951-8234

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-23-2025

Abstract

Objective:
This study evaluates whether hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) yields superior improvements in reducing apnea episodes, alleviating daytime sleepiness, and enhancing quality of life compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) among adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are intolerant of CPAP therapy.

Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar using combinations of “hypoglossal nerve stimulation,” “obstructive sleep apnea,” and “CPAP.” PubMed yielded 337 records; MEDLINE, 105; Google Scholar, 1,080. After duplicate removal, titles and abstracts were screened against inclusion criteria: adults (≥18 years) with body mass index (BMI) < 32 kg/m², documented CPAP intolerance or failure, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) 15–65 events/hour, English-language full texts published since 2019. Exclusion criteria were prior upper‐airway surgery, BMI > 35 kg/m², AHI outside 15–65 events/hour, significant anatomical abnormalities (e.g., tonsillar hypertrophy), severe insomnia, or concentric soft‑palate collapse on drug‐induced sleep endoscopy. Selected studies were analyzed for changes in AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and validated quality‑of‑life instruments.

Results:
Across studies of CPAP‑intolerant cohorts, HNS produced considerable AHI reductions, lowered ODI and ESS scores by clinically significant margins, and yielded notable gains on sleep‑specific quality‑of‑life scales. Comparative analyses against CPAP demonstrated that HNS achieves equivalent or superior control of respiratory events and daytime symptoms. High levels of patient satisfaction and adherence were consistently reported.

Conclusion:
As an emerging modality for OSA management, HNS offers durable apnea suppression, symptomatic relief, and quality‑of‑life enhancement in patients unable to tolerate CPAP. Its adjustable, patient‑centered design may promote long‑term adherence and supports a paradigm of individualized therapy selection

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Jared Roland will graduate from the Valparaiso University Physician Assistant Program in July 2025. He is interested in Family Practice, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology, and plans to return home to Springfield, IL to take the PANCE and seek employment. Jared's presentation is titled “The Effectiveness of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Compared to CPAP in Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” inspired by his interest in the Inspire device and its application in treating sleep apnea.

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