P016 Effects of Aerobic Exercise versus Inspiratory Muscle training on Apnea-Hypopnea Index in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

INTRODUCTION: There is some evidence indicating that exercise, such as aerobic training (AT) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT), improves Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) symptoms. Nonetheless, no study compares the types of exercise in OSA patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of type of exercise on Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and respiratory muscle strength in OSA patients METHODS: Twenty-nine non-obese OSA patients aged 20-50 years with mild to moderate severity (Apnea-hypopnea index 5-30 events/hour) were randomized to the AT group (n=9), the IMT group (n=10) or the control (CON) group (n=10). Participants in the AT group received 60 minutes per day, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. For the IMT group, participants received the Powerbreathe ® device for practicing 8 cycles of 30 breaths per day, 5 times per week, for 12 weeks. Participants in the CON group did not receive any intervention. Their AHI and respiratory muscle strength were analyzed during the pre- and post-tests. Dependent variables were compared between pre- and post-tests via paired t-test, and independent variables were compared between the groups using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differences were considered significant at p<0.05. RESULTS: AHI, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) changed significantly in the AT group and IMT group after 12 weeks of training. Therefore, AHI, MIP, and MEP in the AT group and the IMT group improved significantly compared to the CON group. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic training and inspiratory muscle training improve the apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory muscle strength in OSA patients.