Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a very common condition in around 1 in 20 adults. When you relax during sleep the throat tends to narrow. In OSA patients this narrowing leads to collapse and pauses in breathing. During these pauses the oxygen level falls and the patient wakes up. These events can occur every minute in severe cases and so patients sleep very badly. They wake unrefreshed and are sleepy in the daytime. OSA is best treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. These machines blow air into the throat through a mask worn when asleep. CPAP keeps the airway open. The breathing is stable and sleep is not disrupted. Patients awake refreshed and do not fall asleep in the daytime. CPAP can also help snoring, blood pressure, mood and going to the toilet too often at night. Although CPAP machines work well they are not always comfortable. Around one in 10 patients do not use CPAP very well. Patients who don’t like CPAP ask if there are any other treatments or if they can stop CPAP machines for short breaks. However, no other therapy is as effective, although intra-oral devices that hold the lower jaw forward during sleep can be almost as effective in some patients. There have been studies looking at other alternatives, but these do not seem to be adequate replacements. It is known that snoring is worse if the throat is swollen or the nose is blocked. This can also lead to OSA. Snoring may be improved by nasal decongestants. The aim of this study is to find out whether these decongestants will also treat OSA so that patients can come off their CPAP for short breaks.
Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 or over with mild-moderate OSA who have already been using CPAP treatment for at least 6 months
What does the study involve?
Participants are asked to stop using the CPAP machines for a maximum of 28 days and are randomly allocated to receive either a decongestant nasal spray or a placebo (dummy) spray to spray into each nostril and either side of their throat before bed every night, until they feel their symptoms have returned or the trial team can see the return via remote monitoring. Participants are also asked to wear an overnight oximeter device every night and also complete e-diaries on a daily basis. The aim is to see how long it takes for the participant’s sleep apnoea symptoms to return. If the nose spray stops OSA coming back for a week or more this will help people to decide if they can go away for a few days without having to take their machine. This treatment is only given for a maximum of 28 days at which time the participant should re-start their CPAP treatment. If the participant feels that their symptoms have returned prior to the 28 days or the researchers see they have from the remote monitoring system, they are contacted to restart their CPAP treatment. Two visits to the local sleep centre are required to complete a suite of questionnaires, undergo nose and throat examinations, and answer questions about health and lifestyle.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no direct benefit for the participant but the study will show whether using nasal sprays in the nostrils and throat reduces the time of return of sleep apnoea symptoms. This study will hopefully result in an alternative temporary therapy for those participants wishing to have a "break" from traditional sleep apnoea treatments for things such as holidays. A potential risk of taking part is the return of day time sleepiness, at which point CPAP therapy should be recommenced. There may be some side effects from the nasal sprays.
Where is the study run from?
The Oxford Respiratory Trials unit are sponsoring and managing the trial on behalf of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. There will be two recruiting sites initially, Oxford and Taunton.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2018 to February 2021
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Emma Hedley
2. Dr Justin Pepperell
Mrs Emma Hedley
Dr Justin Pepperell
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Randomised controlled trial of nasal decongestants versus placebo to prolong treatment free periods from continuous positive airway pressure therapy in mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea
In patients with mild-to-moderate OSA currently on CPAP, pre-sleep administration of a nasal and pharyngeal decongestant will prolong the OSA-free period following CPAP-withdrawal.
North East – Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee, NHSBT Newcastle Blood Donor Centre, Holland Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NQ, +44 (0)207 1048083, 24/12/2018, ref: 18/NE/0365
Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Drug
Primary study design
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Obstructive sleep apnoea
The intention is to ask participants to stop using their CPAP treatment and during visit 1 will be randomised to either a real nasal spray or placebo. Participants will also be asked to wear an overnight oximeter every night and also complete e-diaries on a daily basis. Participants will then be advised to spray them into each nostril and either side of their throat prior to bed every night. The primary outcome of the study is to see how long it takes for the participant’s sleep apnoea symptoms to return. This treatment will only be given for a maximum of 28 days at which time the participant should re-start their CPAP treatment. If the participant feels that their symptoms have returned prior to the 28 days or the trialists see they have from the remote monitoring system, the trialists will contact the participant to restart their CPAP treatment. Participants will then be asked to continue to complete their e-diary for a further 7 days post nasal sprays before attending for their final visit, visit 2.
Primary outcome measure
The number of days to return of OSA, defined as an ODI > 15 on 3 consecutive nights or 2 nights with inadequate data between, or to intolerable return of symptoms such that patient requests resumption of CPAP therapy. Measured by overnight every night pulse oximetry and by patient self-reported symptoms. Timepoint(s): 28 days
Secondary outcome measures
1. Patient-reported sleepiness, measured using Epworth sleepiness score at baseline and weekly (day 0, 7, 21 and 28) until 5-week follow-up
2. Overnight pulse rate rises as a marker of autonomic arousal during sleep fragmentation, measured by overnight every night pulse oximetry during 28 day withdrawal of CPAP
Overall trial start date
Overall trial end date
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial
2. Male or female, aged 18 years or above
3. Diagnosed with proven obstructive sleep apnoea, with an ODI > 15 and < 30 on original diagnostic sleep study
4. Established on CPAP treatment for > 6 months with mean usage of > 4 hours/night for last 6 months
5. In the Investigator’s opinion, is able and willing to comply with all trial requirements
6. Willing to withdraw from CPAP treatment for 28 days
7. Good mobile phone reception
8. Use of Wi-Fi at home
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 232; UK Sample Size: 232
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Significant renal or hepatic impairment
2. Scheduled elective surgery or other procedures requiring general anaesthesia during the trial
3. Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participant at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the participant’s ability to participate in the trial
4. Participants who have participated in another research trial involving an investigational product in the past 12 weeks
5. Professional driver or, as assessed by the local investigator, any other vigilance critical activity
6. Daytime SaO2 < 93%, arterial blood gas showing PaO2 < 8.0 kPa or PaCO2 > 6.0, significant hypoventilation on diagnostic sleep study mean saturation < 92%
7. Previous or current history of central sleep apnoea or Cheyne-Stokes respiration
8. Previous history of a sleepiness-related accident
9. Female participant who is pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the trial
10. Participants with a fructose intolerance
Recruitment start date
Recruitment end date
Countries of recruitment
Trial participating centre
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Trial participating centre
Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit
NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF); Grant Codes: PB-PG-1216-20038
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The CI shall submit once a year throughout the clinical trial, or on request, an Annual Progress Report to the REC, host organisation and Sponsor. In addition, an End of Trial notification and final report will be submitted to the MHRA, the NIHR, host organisation and Sponsor.
The investigators will be involved in reviewing drafts of the manuscripts, abstracts, press releases and any other publications arising from the study. Authors will acknowledge that the study was funded by NIHR. Authorship will be determined in accordance with the ICMJE guidelines and other contributors will be acknowledged.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a repository.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Stored in repository
Basic results (scientific)