Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Oral Frailty, Dysphagia, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

The Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on Oral Frailty and Dysphagia in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA): A Prospective Cohort Study Design

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the CPAP treatment on oral frailty and dysphagia among OSA patients.

The research will be divided into three stages. The first stage will investigate the incidence of OSA in patients over 50 years old using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The second stage will examine the relationships among OSA, oral frailty, and dysphagia through an observational case-control study with 225 OSA patients and 225 controls. The third stage will evaluate the effects of CPAP treatment on oral frailty and dysphagia among moderate-severe OSA persons through a prospective cohort study with repeat four times measurements.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 50 years or older.
• Medically diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (apnea and hypopnea index, AHI, ≥ 5 events per hour).
• Clear consciousness and able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Central sleep apnea patients.
• Patients with neurological or muscular disorders (such as stroke or Parkinson's disease).
• Patients diagnosed with oral cancer currently undergoing oral treatment.