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Sleep and Breathing
Published in: Sleep and Breathing 2/2021

Open Access 01-06-2021 | Polysomnography | ENT • Review

Diagnosis and treatment of isolated snoring—open questions and areas for future research

Authors: B. Hofauer, B. Braumann, C. Heiser, M. Herzog, J. T. Maurer, S. Plößl, J. U. Sommer, A. Steffen, T. Verse, B. A. Stuck

Published in: Sleep and Breathing | Issue 2/2021

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Abstract

Study objectives

Snoring is a common phenomenon which is generated by vibration of soft tissue of the upper airway during sleep. Due to the high incidence of isolated snoring and the substantial burden for the patient and the bed partner, a thorough examination and appropriate therapy are required. Many recommendations for the treatment of isolated snoring are either not evidence-based or are derived from recommendations for the management of obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, the aim of this study is the identification and description of open questions in the diagnosis and treatment of isolated snoring and the illustration of areas for further research.

Methods

In the context of the development of the new version of the German guideline “Diagnosis and treatment of isolated snoring in adults,” a multidisciplinary team of experts performed a systematic literature search on the relevant medical data and rated the current evidence regarding the key diagnostic and therapeutic measures for snoring.

Results

The systematic literature review identified 2293 articles. As a major inclusion criterion, only studies on primary snoring based on objective sleep medical assessment were selected. After screening and evaluation, 33 full-text articles remained for further analysis. Based on these articles, open questions and areas for future research were identified for this review.

Conclusion

Several major gaps in the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of isolated snoring were identified. For the majority of diagnostic and therapeutic measures for snoring, high-level scientific evidence is still lacking.
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Metadata
Title
Diagnosis and treatment of isolated snoring—open questions and areas for future research
Authors
B. Hofauer
B. Braumann
C. Heiser
M. Herzog
J. T. Maurer
S. Plößl
J. U. Sommer
A. Steffen
T. Verse
B. A. Stuck
Publication date
01-06-2021
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sleep and Breathing / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 1520-9512
Electronic ISSN: 1522-1709
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02138-6

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