Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review

Context: 

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders, and it is associated with several conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and neuropsychiatric events. Due to its significant burden and increasing prevalence, the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is of great importance.

Evidence Acquisition: 

Continuous airway pressure (CPAP) has been the standard treatment for managing clinically significant obstructive sleep apnea in recent decades. However, compliance with CPAP treatment is as low as 60% in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, CPAP only suppresses respiratory disturbances during sleep while using the devices and does not provide a permanent resolution. Given the limitations of prevalent treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, various alternative therapies have been explored. Among these, acupuncture is a traditional yet novel treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Acupuncture is widely accepted by many people and specialists in different fields and is commonly used to treat various conditions. Several studies have shown that acupuncture effectively improves the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In this review article, we conducted a comprehensive literature search to assess the impact of acupuncture on obstructive sleep apnea. Our findings suggest that acupuncture may represent an effective and safe therapy option for individuals dealing with obstructive sleep apnea.

Acupuncture may also assist patients with obstructive sleep apnea in enhancing their oxygen saturation and improving their sleep quality. This discovery holds particular significance for individuals with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. However, it is worth noting that methodological weaknesses in most of the trials in this field may overstate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture therapy.

Further high-quality randomized clinical trials are warranted to establish the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for obstructive sleep apnea patients.