Investigators have found certain sleep positions may be associated with an increased risk of bruxism during sleep in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea, according to a recent study in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
Previous studies have shown that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may experience worsened respiratory events when sleeping in a supine position. Sleep bruxism is typically assessed through polysomnography and is diagnosed when a rhythmic masticatory muscle activity index of two events or greater per hour of sleep is observed.
Researchers selected 100 patients with OSA, with a mean age of 50.3 years, who had undergone a full-night polysomnographic recording using a home polysomnography system. The collected data included electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, electrocardiogram, bilateral masseter muscle electromyogram, anterior tibialis electromyogram, pressure airflow, snoring, abdominal and thoracic respiratory effort, oxygen saturation, heart rhythm, plethysmography, and sleep position. Using multivariate linear regression analyses, the researchers evaluated each patient's rhythmic masticatory muscle activity index based on demographic and polysomnographic factors, including sleep position.
The findings indicated the rhythmic masticatory muscle activity index was significantly higher in patients who slept in a supine position compared with those who slept in a nonsupine position.
The researchers concluded sleep position may significantly influence the risk and intensity of sleep bruxism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. They recommended that physicians consider the use of sleep position trainers to help patients minimize time spent in the supine position, potentially reducing the adverse effects of both sleep bruxism and OSA.
A full list of disclosures is available in the original study.