Diagnosis and management of sleep apnea by a clinical nurse: a noninferiority randomized clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Study objectives

References for the evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea often exceed the sleep clinic's capacity. We aimed to assess the noninferiority of a nurse-communicated model compared with a traditional physician-led model for the initial management of uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea in the sleep clinic.

Methods

In this noninferiority, open-label randomized controlled trial, patients referred for the evaluation of uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea (home sleep apnea test with respiratory event index ≥ 20 events/h) were randomized to a nurse-communicated or a physician-led management. The primary endpoint was noninferiority in the mean change from baseline of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score at 3 and 6 months, assuming a noninferiority margin of -2.0 point

SUBMITTER: Lajoie AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8807928 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature