Cardiovascular Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Study Objectives: To perform a systematic review of the current evidence regarding the cardiovascular benefits of oral appliance (OA) therapy in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods: A systematic review of relevant articles retrieved from online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, OvidSP) was conducted. All relevant studies published prior to January 20, 2013 that examined the effects of OA on any of the cardiovascular parameters were included. Results: OA therapy could have a beneficial effect on blood pressure (BP), endothelial function (EF), and left ventricular (LV) function of the heart. Eleven articles were included in this systematic review; 7 of 8 studies showed a significant reduction in BP with a mean BP decrease of 4.2 mm Hg, 2 studies showed significant improvement in EF, and 1 study showed significant improvement in LV heart function. Conclusion: OA therapy showed beneficial effects on the cardiovascular comorbidity in OSA patients. In studies comparing OA to CPAP therapy, effects of OA therapy were in the same order of magnitude as the effect of CPAP therapy.