Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42020616›Full record

ArticleSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2026

Characterizing early response and adherence to hypoglossal nerve stimulation: real-world evidence from a single-center cohort.

Po-Yang Tsou, Robert J Thomas, Daniel Vena, Jacqueline Chang, Anjali Ahn

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Po-Yang TsouDivision of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. po-yang.tsou@childrens.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4860-6709
Robert J ThomasDepartment of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 30 Brookline Ave, KSB23, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Daniel VenaDivision of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Jacqueline ChangDepartment of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 30 Brookline Ave, KSB23, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Anjali AhnDepartment of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 30 Brookline Ave, KSB23, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. aahn1@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Funding

TRAINING IN SLEEP, CIRCADIAN &RESPIRATORY NEUROBIOLOGYT32HL007901 · NHLBI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI Charles A Czeisler · 1998 to 2026
$18.5M
Validation of a Phenotype Model to Predict Response to Alternative OSA TreatmentsR01HL102321 · NHLBI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI WELLMAN, DAVID ANDREW · 2011 to 2025
$7.3M
Determination of the site of pharyngeal collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients from snoring soundsR01HL128658 · NHLBI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI WELLMAN, DAVID ANDREW · 2016 to 2025
$4.3M
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL102321NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL128658NHLBI NIH HHS T32 HL007901
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeReal-world predictors of early response to hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) remain inadequately characterized. We aimed to examine baseline characteristics, oximetry patterns, and adjunctive therapies associated with treatment response in a routine clinical HGNS cohort.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults receiving HGNS at a tertiary sleep center (2019–2025). Treatment response was defined as apnea-hypopnea index by 4% criteria (AHI4%) < 15 events/hour on first post-implant polysomnography. Baseline demographics, polysomnography characteristics including oximetry banding patterns, adjunctive medication exposure, and device adherence were compared between responders and non-responders using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher exact tests.

resultsAmong 56 implanted patients, 35 had post-implant polysomnography with complete AHI4% data. Twenty-eight (80%) were responders; median AHI4% decreased from 27.1 to 7.0 events/hour. Responders had lower body mass index (28.6 vs. 31.1 kg/m², p = 0.035) and baseline AHI4% (20.3 vs. 37.5 events/hour, p = 0.021). All non-responders demonstrated oximetry banding patterns compared to 77% of responders (p = 0.16). Response rates using AHI3% criteria were markedly lower (31% [11/36]).

conclusionsLower BMI was associated with early HGNS response. Oximetry banding and adjunctive pharmacotherapy were common among non-responders, suggesting opportunities for combination therapeutic approaches. The substantial gap between AHI4% and AHI3% response rates highlights persistent arousal-based disturbances that may warrant additional intervention.

Indexed as

Electric Stimulation TherapyHypoglossal NervePatient ComplianceSleep Apnea, ObstructiveAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOximetryPolysomnographyRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeHypoglossal nerve stimulationLoop gainObstructive sleep apneaTreatment responseUpper airway stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42020616

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.