Acupuncture in obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome: a case report with fifteen months of follow-up

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The present work describes a clinical case study of a male patient who was clinically and polysomnographically diagnosed with mild OSAHS. There was a significant reduction in the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) from 13.1 to 0.5 after 10 weeks of treatment and to 3.3 at 15 months after treatment. In addition, there was a reduction of respiratory events from 90 to 3 after 10 weeks and to 9 after 15 months. Acupuncture was effective in treating mild OSAHS; however, treatment for this disease should be initiated immediately after diagnosis to prevent progression.