Not all patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are able to use CPAP therapy, often because the mask can be uncomfortable and in severe cases can lead to sleep deprivation. Alternatives for CPAP include mandibular advancement devices, and sometimes surgical options like hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) which requires a pre-assessment, surgical implantation, activation and follow up appointments.
Professor Joerg Steier, a professor of respiratory and sleep medicine at the School of Basic and Medical Biosiences
03 August 2023
TENS machine provides cheaper and non-invasive treatment for sleep apnoea
A machine commonly used for pain relief has shown to improve breathing in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, a clinical trial has found.
Results of the TESLA trial, published today in eClinical Medicine by researchers from King’s and Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, shows the potential of a new therapeutic option for patients using a transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) machine.
Sleep apnoea affects about 1 billion people worldwide, and millions in the UK. While the condition can be frequently associated with snoring, people who are affected stop breathing many times during the night. The condition leaves people excessively sleepy during the day, lacking attention, and sometimes experiencing headaches. People diagnosed with sleep apnoea are advised not to drive when feeling excessively sleepy.
Many people with sleep apnoea may use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which pumps air into a mask you wear over your mouth or nose while you sleep. However, only about 75% of patients adhere to CPAP after 3-months, and after five years of treatment this is down to about 25%. Evidence-based alternatives for CPAP are limited but include a specialised mouth guard which pushes the lower jaw forward - known as a mandibular advancement devices (MAD) - and in some cases surgical options.
The TENS machine used in the TESLA trial is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes. It is commonly used to reduce pain from conditions such as arthritis and during child labour, but has not been used for people with obstructive sleep apnoea before.
The TESLA trial shows this can be a cheap and non-invasive treatment method. Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea were randomised and set to receive a TENS machine or CPAP. The light and continuous electric stimulation of the TENS machine is enough to keep the airway open while asleep, allowing easy breathing to continue.
Patients treated with TENS showed improvements in nocturnal breathing and a significant reduction of daytime exhaustion.
The trial also shows that this treatment could be considered for patients who do not respond well to CPAP, providing a second line treatment that is cheaper and less time consuming to roll out than current alternatives.
He added: “In contrast, a TENS machine is non-invasive, has little side effects, and is cheap. The TESLA trial shows us the potential of a new therapeutic option, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and it will be interesting to see how the method can be used in clinical practice.”
A multi-centre trial is now being planned to prove efficacy in different healthcare systems.
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Professor of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine