Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation and Heart Health
A retrospective study indicates that hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea may reduce the long-term risk of diabetes and hypertension after two years. While the treatment shows cardiometabolic benefits, it did not significantly lower the incidence of major cardiovascular events.
Why it matters
This research provides new insights into the long-term systemic health impacts of sleep apnea treatments beyond immediate symptom relief.
HYPOGLOSSAL nerve stimulation may reduce long-term diabetes and hypertension incidence in adults with obstructive sleep apnea .
A retrospective cohort study found that hypoglossal nerve stimulation was associated with potentially favorable cardiometabolic outcomes that emerged more than 2 years after implantation. However, the treatment was not associated with a significantly lower incidence of minor or major cardiovascular events after this period.
Researchers analyzed adults who underwent hypoglossal nerve stimulation between 2015 and 2024. These individuals were matched with controls who had obstructive sleep apnea and were nonadherent to positive airway pressure therapy but did not undergo device implantation.
The study included 3,786 people who received hypoglossal nerve stimulation and 3,395 controls. The median age of the intervention group was 53 years, and 67.7% were male.
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