Clinical Research Directory

Development and Investigation of the ApneaTheraPlay

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is commonly treated with CPAP devices, but adherence rates are low. Exercise has been shown to strengthen respiratory muscles, improve upper airway function, and enhance sleep quality. However, most studies have examined only single or dual exercise protocols, and there is little evidence regarding integrated programs with four exercise types or their effects when performed directly before sleep. This project aims to develop and evaluate ApneaTheraPlay (ATP), a digital gamified video-based exercise platform combining respiratory, aerobic, strengthening, and oropharyngeal exercises. The randomized controlled, double-blind study will allocate participants into three groups: ATP, a structured pre-sleep exercise group (SPEG), and a control group (CG). Intervention groups will exercise three times per week for 12 weeks, while the control group will only keep a physical activity diary.

EFFECT OF A SUBSTANCE P ANTAGONIST ON THE SECRETION OF ALDOSTERONE IN PATIENTS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with hyperaldosteronism with elevated plasma aldosterone/renin ratio, the physiopathological mechanism of which remains uncertain. This hyperaldosteronism contributes to the development of arterial hypertension and cardiovascular complications observed in patients with OSA, in particular by increasing arterial stiffness and heart rate variability. The frequent association of OSA with obesity with metabolic syndrome suggests that excess weight could be responsible for stimulation of aldosterone secretion independent of the renin/angiotensin system. Several studies indicate in particular that the production of mineralocorticoids by the adrenals could be activated by various adipocyte secretion products such as leptin and certain fatty acids after oxidation in the liver. In addition, a recent study showed that basal aldosterone secretion is also controlled by substance P released within the adrenal tissue itself by nerve fibers belonging to the splanchnic contingent. Thus, the oral administration of aprepitant, an antagonist of the substance P receptor (NK1 receptor), to healthy volunteers induces a reduction of approximately 30% in the overall secretion of aldosterone assessed by measuring aldosteronemia and 24-hour aldosteronuria. To the extent that OSA causes sympathetic hypertonia, the hypothesis is that the associated hyperaldosteronism could result from activation of the nervous control of aldosterone secretion, involving substance P and the NK1 receptor. If this is indeed the case, the administration of aprepitant to patients with OSA should result in a significant reduction in aldosteronemia.

Validation of the French Version of the OSA-18 Questionnaire

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive partial and/or total closure of the upper airway during sleep, inducing oxygen desaturation and sleep disturbance. Its prevalence in the pediatric population is 1-5%. In children, OSA can have negative consequences on the cardiovascular system and on the neurocognitive development. It is essential to diagnose OSA and to treat it efficiently. The OSA-18 questionnaire assesses the symptômes of OSA in children and its repercussions. It is composed of 18 items scored on a Likert scale by caregivers. This system allows a more sensitive scoring than binary answers available in other questionnaires like the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire. The OSA-18 questionnaire would thus be an interesting tool to use for evaluating treatment efficacy in interventional studies and in clinical practice. This questionnaire is not yet available in French. The main objective of this study is thus to evaluate the validity of a French version compared to the gold standard method to evaluate OSA: polysomnography.

Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation

Multi-center, open-label, prospective, randomized clinical trial of the aura6000(R) System for the reduction of apnea and hypopneas in adult patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who have failed or are unwilling to use positive airway pressure treatment.

Effect of Hypnosis on Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing is high, with an apnea-hypopnea index of over 15 per hour found in 49.7% of men and 23.4% of women in the general population (1). The gold standard treatment for sleep-disordered breathing is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (2). However, nearly 30% of patients are considered non-adherent to CPAP treatment (3). Moreover, the number of hours of CPAP usage has been shown to be directly associated with a reduction in objective and subjective sleepiness, and improvement in daytime functioning (4). A recent prospective study conducted in a French clinical population cohort of 5138 participants found an effect of CPAP treatment duration on reducing the risk of developing a major cardiovascular event (stroke, myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality) (5). Therefore, the poor adherence to CPAP treatment represents a public health challenge for healthcare professionals managing these patients. Several predictors for non-adherence can be identified, such as using CPAP for less than 4 hours per night during the initial treatment phase, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or low self-esteem (6). Measures aimed at promoting patient adaptation from the initiation of treatment are crucial as this period determines long-term adherence to CPAP therapy (7). Among these measures, there is the management of "physical" adverse effects such as xerostomia (using a humidifier), feeling too much or too little air (modifying CPAP pressure profiles), skin problems, and mask air leaks (interface adjustment), which are well-known and applied by health care organization providing the CPAP machines (2). On top of these "technical" problems, patients related issues such as mask-induced anxiety, psychosocial conditions, and dysfunctional thoughts about CPAP treatment may prevent patients from using their CPAP properly. Innovative tools such as psycho corporal therapies, including medical hypnosis, could be used in these situations. A recent literature review focusing on the impact of medical hypnosis on sleep disorders in adult patients found an improvement in various sleep parameters (sleep quality, insomnia complaints, frequency and/or intensity of parasomnias) in 58.4% of patients. However, in this systematic review of 24 studies, none of them explored the use of medical hypnosis in sleep-related breathing disorders (8). Hypnosis can be defined as an altered state of consciousness in which a person's attention is detached from their immediate environment and absorbed in inner experiences such as feelings, cognition, and imagery (9). Hypnotic induction involves focusing attention and imaginative involvement to the point where what is imagined seems real. By using and accepting suggestions, the clinician and the patient create a benevolent hypnotic reality with the goal of improving the patient's clinical situation (10). In the literature, there is only one clinical case report describing a benefit of medical hypnosis for CPAP tolerance in a child with cherubism (a rare fibro-osseous genetic disease-causing nasal obstruction). In this case, CPAP therapy using an oral interface was fully accepted after three hypnosis sessions and corrected the obstructive sleep breathing disorder (11). In a slightly different domain, there is a case report of successful use of medical hypnosis as an adjunct therapy for weaning from mechanical ventilation (12). Our hypothesis is that the use of medical hypnosis in CPAP-treated patients could improve the patient's perception of the treatment, making it more positive. Medical hypnosis could occur very early in the management process, with rapid learning of self-hypnosis to actively influence this crucial period for long term adherence of CPAP. The principal objective is therefore to evaluate the effects of medical hypnosis on adherence to CPAP therapy in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

A Study Comparing Two Mandibular Advancement Devices in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea

The goal of this randomised, controlled cross-over study is to compare two mandibular repositioning devices (MRA) already on the market in the treatment of mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Patiënt will test the first MRA for 3 months, after a wash out period of 2 weeks they will test the second MRA for 3 months. It will be randomised what type of MRA will be tested first and second.

COR-INSIGHT: Optimizing Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Outcomes with AI-Driven Multiplexed Indications Using COR ECG Wearable

The COR-INSIGHT trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Peerbridge COR advanced ambulatory ECG wearables (COR 1.0 and COR 2.0) in accurately and non-invasively detecting cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary conditions using AI-based software (CardioMIND and CardioQSync). The study devices offer non-invasive, multiplexed, AI-enabled direct-from-ECG detection as a novel alternative to traditional diagnostic methods, including imaging, hemodynamic monitoring systems, catheter-based devices, and biochemical assays. Continuous COR ECG data collected in hospital, outpatient clinic, or home settings will be analyzed to evaluate the predictive accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and performance of these devices in differentiating between screen-positive and screen-negative subjects. The panel of screened indications encompasses a broad spectrum of clinically relevant cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and sleep-related diagnostic parameters, which are critical for advanced patient assessment and management. In the cardiovascular domain, the protocol emphasizes the detection and classification of heart failure, assessment of ejection fraction severity, and identification of myocardial infarction, including pathological Q-waves and STEMI. It further addresses diagnostic markers for arrhythmogenic conditions such as QT interval prolongation, T-wave alternans, and ventricular tachycardia, as well as insights into ischemia, atrial enlargement, ventricular activation time, and heart rate turbulence. Additional parameters, such as heart rate variability, pacing efficacy, electrolyte imbalances, and structural abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy, contribute to comprehensive cardiovascular risk stratification. In the non-invasive cardiopulmonary context, the protocol incorporates metrics like respiratory sinus arrhythmia, cardiac output, stroke volume, and stroke volume variability, providing critical insights into hemodynamic and autonomic function. The inclusion of direct-from-ECG metrics for sleep-related disorders, such as the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disturbance index, and oxygen saturation variability, underscores the protocol's utility in addressing the intersection of cardiopulmonary and sleep medicine. This multifaceted approach establishes a robust framework for precision diagnostics and holistic patient management. The COR 1.0 and COR 2.0 wearables provide multi-lead ECG recordings, with COR 2.0 offering extended capabilities for cardiopulmonary metrics and longer battery life (up to 14 days). COR 2.0 supports tri-modal operations: (i) Extended Holter Mode: Outputs Leads II and III, mirroring the functionality of COR 1.0 for broader ECG monitoring applications. (ii) Cardiopulmonary Mode: Adds real-time recording of Lead I, V2, respiratory impedance, and triaxial accelerometer outputs, providing advanced cardiopulmonary insights. (iii) Real-Time Streaming Mode: Streams data directly to mobile devices or computers via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), enabling real-time waveform rendering and analysis. The COR 2.0 units are experimental and not yet FDA-cleared. Primary endpoints include sensitivity (true positive rate) \> 80%, specificity (true negative rate) \> 90%, and statistical agreement with reference devices for cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and sleep metrics. Secondary endpoints focus on predictive values (PPV and NPV) and overall diagnostic performance. The study employs eight distinct sub-protocols (A through H) to address a variety of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and sleep-related diagnostic goals. These sub-protocols are tailored to specific clinical endpoints, varying in duration (30 minutes to 14 days) and type of data collection. Up to 15,000 participants will be enrolled across multiple sub-protocols. Screening ensures eligibility, and subjects must provide informed consent before participation. Dropouts and non-compliant subjects will be excluded from final analyses.

Impact of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

It has been shown to date that obesity is associated with increased mortality and that weight loss significantly improves cardiovascular risk factors. Among patients receiving bariatric surgery, 30-90% have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome. Given the strong associations between OSA and cardiometabolic comorbidities, this project is based on the hypothesis of a lower improvement of cardiovascular risk factors and a higher number of post-surgical complications in OSAS patients.