Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30760846›Full record

Trial reportSpinal cord2019

A randomised controlled trial of nasal decongestant to treat obstructive sleep apnoea in people with cervical spinal cord injury.

Nirupama S Wijesuriya, Danny J Eckert, Amy S Jordan, Rachel Schembri, Chaminda Lewis, Hailey Meaklim, Lauren Booker, Doug Brown, Marnie Graco, David J Berlowitz

Open access · bronzeAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Spinal cord, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 31% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. An update on sleep disordered breathing in spinal cord injury.Current opinion in pulmonary medicine · 2025
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Nirupama S WijesuriyaNeuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Danny J EckertNeuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Amy S JordanInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Rachel SchembriInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Chaminda LewisNeuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Hailey MeaklimInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Lauren BookerInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Doug BrownSpinal Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
Marnie GracoInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6048-0147
David J BerlowitzInstitute of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS), Melbourne, VIC, Australia. david.berlowitz@austin.org.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2543-8722
Institute for Breathing and Sleep · AUThe University of Melbourne · AUNeuroscience Research Australia · AUAustralian Spinal Research Foundation · AUUNSW Sydney · AU

Funding

Australian Research Council (ARC) FT100100203Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 1065913Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 1116942Transport Accident Commission (TAC) DP158
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designProspective, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of nasal decongestion in tetraplegia.

objectivesTetraplegia is complicated by severe, predominantly obstructive, sleep apnoea. First-line therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea is nasal continuous positive airway pressure, but this is poorly tolerated. High nasal resistance associated with unopposed parasympathetic activation of the upper airway contributes to poor adherence. This preliminary study tested whether reducing nasal decongestion improved sleep.

settingParticipants' homes in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

methodsTwo sleep studies were performed in participants' homes separated by 1 week. Participants were given a nasal spray (0.5 mL of 5% phenylephrine or placebo) in random order and posterior nasal resistance measured immediately. Outcomes included sleep apnoea severity, perceived nasal congestion, sleep quality and oxygenation during sleep.

resultsTwelve middle-aged (average (SD) 52 (12) years) overweight (body mass index 25.3 (6.7) kg/m

conclusionsThese preliminary data found that phenylephrine acutely reduced nasal resistance but did not significantly change sleep-disordered breathing severity.

Indexed as

AdultCervical CordDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNasal DecongestantsPhenylephrineQuadriplegiaSleep Apnea, ObstructiveSpinal Cord InjuriesNasal DecongestantsPhenylephrine

Identifiers

PMID30760846
OpenAlexW2911289286

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.