Nasopharyngeal symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome - Effect of nasal CPAP treatment

Background: Nasal side effects are often reported during nasal continuous p ositive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrom e (OSAS) and may make the use of nasal CPAP difficult; Objective: The aim o f this study was to evaluate the effect of nasal CPAP on nasopharyngeal sym ptoms in OSAS patients. Methods: The frequency and severity of nasopharynge al symptoms and signs were prospectively evaluated in 49 consecutive OSAS p atients (37 men, 12 women, mean (SD) age 54 (7) years, body mass index 35 ( 6) kg/m(2)) immediately before and after 6 months' treatment with nasal CPA P, Results: Nasopharyngeal symptoms were common already before starting nas al CPAP: 74% of patients reported dryness, 53% sneezing, 51% mucus in the t hroat, 45% blocked nose, and 37% rhinorrhea. During nasal CPAP treatment, s everity and frequency of sneezing (75%) and rhinorrhea (57%) increased. Thi s increase was related to the season when nasal CPAP was applied, and was m ore profound in winter than in summer. Mild abnormalities on rhinoscopy and paranasal sinus X-rays were common both at baseline and at follow-up with no significant change during treatment. Conclusions: Nasopharyngeal problem s were found to be frequent in patients with OSAS before nasal CPAP treatme nt, and tended to increase during the treatment.