The novel nasal cleansing system increases comfort and compliance in sleep apnea patients using CPAP

The novel nasal cleansing system increases comfort and compliance in sleep apnea patients using CPAP

A novel nasal cleansing system (NasoClenzTM, Silicon Valley Innovations, Sunnyvale, CA) reduced bacterial colonization while increasing comfort and compliance in patients using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea, according to results of a clinical evaluation presented recently at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress.

Sleep apnea is a very serious health problem. Anything we can offer patients to improve adherence to CPAP will have a huge impact on patients’ lives.”

Keith Matheny, MD, FARS, lead author and presenter

Sleep Apnea – A Public Health Crisis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that affects over 40 million adults in the United States and can lead to stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even death. Decades of research have found that using CPAP during sleep has significant benefits for these patients; However, long-term compliance is very low due to the discomfort with the masks and the extreme dryness of the nose that the airflow causes.

Dr. Matheny, renowned otolaryngologist with Collin County Ear Nose and Throat, and his colleagues wanted to investigate whether intranasal cleaning and humidification could improve comfort and potentially reduce bacteria in the nose to increase CPAP use.

Study details

This initial evaluation included a group of routine CPAP users who were administered NasoClenz, an antiseptic cleaning kit that contains anatomically designed, soft nasal applicators used in conjunction with a specially formulated antiseptic gel.

Participating patients used the prepackaged NasoClenz kits before and after using CPAP for a period of two weeks. They completed a survey before the study began and after the two-week period. In the “after” survey, more than 50% of study participants said the kits made CPAP more comfortable, and at least 50% said it helped increase their use of CPAP. Overall, patients responded very positively, with 82% of them reporting that NasoClenz was beneficial for routine use with CPAP.

"These results are very encouraging as they suggest that our patients can benefit from this relatively simple and inexpensive technology. This initial study has shown that we can significantly improve patient comfort and increase CPAP utilization," said Dr. Matheny. “We look forward to following up on these results in a larger study as the implications are very significant.”

For study participant Kendell Whidbee, 50, of Bentonville, Ark., NasoClenz resulted in a dramatic improvement in comfort that helped him increase his CPAP use. Before the study, he used his CPAP machine “sporadically,” typically for only 4-5 hours at a time. With NasoClenz, he uses it almost every night for 6-8 hours.

"NasoClenz makes sleeping with a CPAP so much more comfortable. Not only do I sleep longer with my CPAP, but I also sleep better. I wake up more refreshed and have more energy throughout the day," he said. “This product is a game changer for people suffering from sleep apnea.”

In addition, the results also showed a decrease in bacterial colonization. Of the 18 participants, six patients were randomly selected for pre- and post-study bacterial cultures. Before the study, 50 percent of these patients had antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). After two weeks of twice-daily use of NasoClenz, bacterial colonization was reduced or eliminated in all but one of these patients.

These results were presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, held October 16-20, 2022 in San Diego, California.

Source:

Collin County Ear Nose Throat

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