Real World Evidence
Clinically Relevant Deliverables
The Problem
Obstructive sleep apnea therapy
One of the main challenges to define the best obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment path hinges on the accurate definition of “successful result”, as some of the commonly used sleep study metrics have little to no correlation with clinically meaningful outcomes and offer limited perspective on the strategy procedure for each individual. In addition, decisions around treatment selection and in the case of surgery, perioperative routines are based on less than ideal evidence to support or refute its usefulness.
The Goal
Sleep Surgery Team
To target this issue, Dr Capasso gathered multidisciplinary talent with medical, business, computer science and statistics expertise aiming to collect, refine and analyze large volumes of data presented by claims databases, electronic medical records (EMRs), smartphones and wearables to produce Real World Evidence that will define clinically relevant deliverables and peri-operative efficient routines. In the future, it is possible that AI and ML will permeate such an environment, working in tandem with human members of our care team. Learn More
What are the risk factors for inappropriate opioid use after sleep surgery?
Our team conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the risk factors associated with chronic opioid use following surgery for OSA. By analyzing data from over 10,000 adult patients who underwent various sleep-related surgeries, we identified several key factors contributing to the inappropriate and prolonged use of opioids.
Abdelwahab M, Marques S, Howard J, et al. Incidence and risk factors of chronic opioid use after sleep apnea surgery. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(7):1805-1813. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9978
What is the cost-effectiveness of
OSA surgery?
What is the cost-effectiveness
of OSA surgery?
Our research on the impact of different treatments for OSA compared the healthcare costs derived from OSA surgery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and no treatment. By analyzing data from nearly 5 million patients, we found that those who underwent surgery experienced significantly lower healthcare costs over time compared to those treated with CPAP or left untreated. These findings suggest that surgery may offer a more cost-effective approach to managing OSA, potentially reducing overall healthcare utilization and expenses.
Abdelwahab M, Marques S, Huang A, et al. Value of Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment for Sleep Apnea: A Closer Look at Health Care Utilization. Otolaryngol--Head Neck Surg Off J Am Acad Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg. 2023;168(5):1228-1237. doi:10.1002/ohn.175
OSA surgery and the development of systemic diseases
Recent research highlights that surgical interventions could be a promising alternative treatment for OSA, especially for patients who find it challenging to adhere to CPAP therapy. Our comprehensive study, which analyzed data from over 54,000 patients, revealed that soft tissue surgeries for OSA are linked to a substantial reduction in the occurrence of cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine events compared to CPAP therapy. These results emphasize the potential advantages of considering surgery as an early treatment option, particularly for patients at high risk of CPAP non-compliance.
Ibrahim B, de Freitas Mendonca MI, Gombar S, Callahan A, Jung K, Capasso R. Association of Systemic Diseases With Surgical Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Compared With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. JAMA Otolaryngol-- Head Neck Surg. 2021;147(4):329-335. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.5179
Make a Gift
Please specify “Real World Evidence for Sleep Health” in the “Any comments or gift instruction?" Field
Collaborators
