Obstructive Sleep ApneaHNS-CoDSENCT07337239
Assessment of the Effect of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy on Upper Airway Collapsibility During Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy
A study testing Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by University Hospital, Antwerp at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
This clinical trial will evaluate the effect of treatment with hypoglossal nerve stimulation on the underlying mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea. Several disease mechanism parameters are known to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- What is being tested?
- Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 21 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- Jan 2026to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years or older.
- Treated with HNS-therapy for OSA (AHI ≥15/hour sleep)
- Capable of giving informed consent
- Baseline polysomnography performed at Antwerp University Hospital
Who cannot join
- Patients did not receive HNS-therapy at the Antwerp University Hospital
- Central apneas accounting for ≥25% of total apneas during baseline polysomnography
- Known medical history of intellectual disability, memory disorders or current psychiatric disorders (psychotic illness, major depression, or acute anxiety attacks as mentioned by the participant).
- Simultaneous use of other treatment modalities to treat OSA (outside of HNS-therapy)
- Esophageal ulceration, tumors, diverticulitis, bleeding varices, sinusitis, epistaxis, recent nasopharyngeal surgery
- Pregnancy or willing to become pregnant
- Excessive alcohol or drug use (> 20 alcohol units/week or any use of hard drugs)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium1 site
Antwerp University Hospital
Edegem, Antwerpen, 2650
Ethical Committee, +32 3 821 38 97, ethisch.comite@uza.be
About this study
This clinical trial will evaluate the effect of treatment with hypoglossal nerve stimulation on the underlying mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea. Several disease mechanism parameters are known to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. However, currently, only the location of upper airway collapse is routinely examined in clinical practice using sleep endoscopy. Among other parameters, airway collapsibility is a widely studied mechanism. This parameter indicates how easily a patient's upper airway tends to collapse and can be assessed with additional measurements during sleep endoscopy.
The aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of hypoglossal nerve stimulation on collapsibility during sleep endoscopy. This information will provide a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms of hypoglossal nerve stimulation. In the long term, the investigators hope this knowledge will allow for more personalized care by tailoring treatment to the specific needs of each patient.
Read the detailed description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most prevalent respiratory disorders, characterized by recurrent pharyngeal collapses during sleep. This disturbance results in fragmented, nonrestorative sleep. Furthermore, intermittent hypoxemia can lead to both acute and chronic elevation of blood pressure and serves as a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality. OSA symptoms include snoring, unrefreshing sleep, fatigue, excessive sleepiness and nocturnal gasping or choking.
OSA is diagnosed using polysomnography (PSG), during which several parameters are measured throughout the night, including airflow, electroencephalography, electromyography, oxygen desaturation and heart rate. Using these measures, OSA severity is quantified by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), capturing the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep.
The standard treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which opens the upper airway by creating a pneumatic splint. Alternative treatments include mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment, which (re)opens the upper airway by protruding the mandible, positional therapy to avoid supine position, drug treatments, hypoglossal nerve stimulation treatment and other surgical treatments. While CPAP is characterized by an overall greater efficacy, adherence might be limited. Non-CPAP treatments are characterized by a higher adherence, yet their efficacy is patient dependent.
Respiration-synchronized hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an innovative technique in which the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated to protrude the tongue during inspiration. While HNS has demonstrated clinical efficacy, its impact on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA remains insufficiently understood. Five pathophysiological parameters are known to be associated with OSA treatment outcome: site of collapse, upper airway collapsibility, ventilatory control instability (loop gain), muscle responsiveness and arousal threshold. These key pathophysiological traits have also been shown to be associated with HNS treatment outcome.
Currently, only the site of collapse is routinely assessed in clinical practice using drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The remaining traits, particularly collapsibility, usually require complex overnight pressure-drop studies that are not feasible for routine clinical use. Collapsibility is commonly assessed in research using the critical closing pressure (Pcrit), where a higher Pcrit indicates a more collapsible airway.
A recent technique developed by our research group allows for the assessment of the critical closing pressure (Pcrit) during DISE using a modified nasal mask and CPAP device. While the clinical effectiveness of HNS is proven, its specific effect on upper airway collapsibility is unknown.
This study aims to quantify the effect of HNS on upper airway collapsibility by measuring Pcrit during DISE, both with and without active stimulation. This research is vital for understanding the mechanical effects of HNS therapy and may ultimately improve patient selection and the delivery of personalized medicine for OSA.
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Being tested
- Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)
- Keywords
- OSA, DISE, Endotyping, Collapsibility
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)Procedure or surgery
During standard DISE, type I polysomnography (Alice LDx 6, Philips Respironics) expanded with measurements of Pcrit (Pcrit3000 device, Philips Respironics) and airflow (Pneumotachometer, Hans-Rudolph, USA) will be performed.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DISE extended with additional measurements | Experimental | Patients who undergo hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy will be recruited at the one year follow-up appointment at the department of ENT. As part of the standard clinical pathway, these patients will have a PSG and DISE planned one year after HNS-therapy intiation. Participants of this study will be invited to to have their one year follow-up DISE extended with additional measurements to assess the effect of HNS therapy on upper airway collapsibility. Receives: Procedure: Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
ΔPcrit
Change in pharyngeal critical closing pressure (ΔPcrit), between baseline Pcrit and Pcrit with HNS. Both Pcrit measurements will be performed on the same day, during the 1-year follow-up DISE.
Measured: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
Secondary outcomes (3)
ΔPcrit in responders and in non-responders
ΔPcrit in responders and in non-responders. Treatment responders are defined by the Sher15 criteria (AHI decrease of >50% and total AHI<15/h).
Measured: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
∆AHI from baseline to one-year follow-up
∆AHI from baseline to one-year follow-up to measure treatment response
Measured: From baseline (PSG at baseline, before implantation of hypoglossal nerve stimulator) to one-year follow-up
Δ%area-of-collapse at the level of the palate, tongue base, lateral walls and epiglottis
Δ%area-of-collapse at the level of the palate, tongue base, lateral walls and epiglottis, between baseline DISE and DISE with HNS
Measured: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2026
- Study startJan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (20)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Obstructive Sleep ApneaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University Hospital, AntwerpThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Patients who undergo hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy will be recruited at the one year follow-up appointment at the department of ENT. As part of the standard clinical pathway, these patients will have a PSG and DISE planned one year after HNS-therapy intiation. Participants of this study will be invited to to have their one year follow-up DISE extended with additional measurements to assess the effect of HNS therapy on upper airway collapsibility.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Antwerp
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337239
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 8169
- Acronym
- HNS-CoDSE
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 25 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Lou B, Rusk S, Nygate YN, Quintero L, Ishikawa O, Shikowitz M, Greenberg H. Association of hypoglossal nerve stimulator response with machine learning identified negative effort dependence patterns. Sleep Breath. 2023 May;27(2):519-525. doi: 10.1007/s11325-022-02641-y. Epub 2022 May 27.
PubMed 35622197Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF. The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 1996 Feb;19(2):156-77. doi: 10.1093/sleep/19.2.156.
PubMed 8855039Bamagoos AA, Cistulli PA, Sutherland K, Ngiam J, Burke PGR, Bilston LE, Butler JE, Eckert DJ. Dose-dependent effects of mandibular advancement on upper airway collapsibility and muscle function in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2019 Jun 11;42(6):zsz049. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz049.
PubMed 30810164Kazemeini E, Van de Perck E, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken J, Op de Beeck S, Vanderveken OM. Critical to Know Pcrit: A Review on Pharyngeal Critical Closing Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Front Neurol. 2022 Feb 22;13:775709. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.775709. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 35273554Kazemeini E, Van de Perck E, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken J, Sands SA, Vanderveken OM, Op de Beeck S. Critical closing pressure of the pharyngeal airway during routine drug-induced sleep endoscopy: feasibility and protocol. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 Apr 1;132(4):925-937. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00624.2021. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
PubMed 35112928Smith PL, Wise RA, Gold AR, Schwartz AR, Permutt S. Upper airway pressure-flow relationships in obstructive sleep apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1988 Feb;64(2):789-95. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1988.64.2.789.
PubMed 3372436Wellman A, Edwards BA, Sands SA, Owens RL, Nemati S, Butler J, Passaglia CL, Jackson AC, Malhotra A, White DP. A simplified method for determining phenotypic traits in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Apr;114(7):911-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00747.2012. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
PubMed 23349453Vanderveken OM, Maurer JT, Hohenhorst W, Hamans E, Lin HS, Vroegop AV, Anders C, de Vries N, Van de Heyning PH. Evaluation of drug-induced sleep endoscopy as a patient selection tool for implanted upper airway stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):433-8. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2658.
PubMed 23674933Op de Beeck S, Wellman A, Dieltjens M, Strohl KP, Willemen M, Van de Heyning PH, Verbraecken JA, Vanderveken OM, Sands SA; STAR Trial Investigators. Endotypic Mechanisms of Successful Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 15;203(6):746-755. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202006-2176OC.
PubMed 32970962Eckert DJ, White DP, Jordan AS, Malhotra A, Wellman A. Defining phenotypic causes of obstructive sleep apnea. Identification of novel therapeutic targets. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Oct 15;188(8):996-1004. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201303-0448OC.
PubMed 23721582Strollo PJ Jr, Soose RJ, Maurer JT, de Vries N, Cornelius J, Froymovich O, Hanson RD, Padhya TA, Steward DL, Gillespie MB, Woodson BT, Van de Heyning PH, Goetting MG, Vanderveken OM, Feldman N, Knaack L, Strohl KP; STAR Trial Group. Upper-airway stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. N Engl J Med. 2014 Jan 9;370(2):139-49. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1308659.
PubMed 24401051Vanderveken OM, Beyers J, Op de Beeck S, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken JA, De Backer WA, Van de Heyning PH. Development of a Clinical Pathway and Technical Aspects of Upper Airway Stimulation Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Front Neurosci. 2017 Sep 21;11:523. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00523. eCollection 2017.
PubMed 28983236Sutherland K, Vanderveken OM, Tsuda H, Marklund M, Gagnadoux F, Kushida CA, Cistulli PA. Oral appliance treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: an update. J Clin Sleep Med. 2014 Feb 15;10(2):215-27. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.3460.
PubMed 24533007Vena D, Op de Beeck S, Mann D, et al. Pharyngeal site of collapse and collapsibility estimated from airflow predict oral appliance treatment efficacy. Sleep Medicine. 2022;100:S264-S265. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2022.05.713
Sullivan CE, Issa FG, Berthon-Jones M, Eves L. Reversal of obstructive sleep apnoea by continuous positive airway pressure applied through the nares. Lancet. 1981 Apr 18;1(8225):862-5. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)92140-1.
PubMed 6112294
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of the Effect of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy on Upper Airway Collapsibility During Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337239
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HNS-CoDSE / 8169
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Keywords
- OSA, DISE, Endotyping, Collapsibility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, AntwerpUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This clinical trial will evaluate the effect of treatment with hypoglossal nerve stimulation on the underlying mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea. Several disease mechanism parameters are known to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. However, currently, only the location of upper airway collapse is routinely examined in clinical practice using sleep endoscopy. Among other parameters, airway collapsibility is a widely studied mechanism. This parameter indicates how easily a patient's upper airway tends to collapse and can be assessed with additional measurements during sleep endoscopy.
The aim of this trial is to investigate the effect of hypoglossal nerve stimulation on collapsibility during sleep endoscopy. This information will provide a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms of hypoglossal nerve stimulation. In the long term, the investigators hope this knowledge will allow for more personalized care by tailoring treatment to the specific needs of each patient.
Detailed description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most prevalent respiratory disorders, characterized by recurrent pharyngeal collapses during sleep. This disturbance results in fragmented, nonrestorative sleep. Furthermore, intermittent hypoxemia can lead to both acute and chronic elevation of blood pressure and serves as a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality. OSA symptoms include snoring, unrefreshing sleep, fatigue, excessive sleepiness and nocturnal gasping or choking.
OSA is diagnosed using polysomnography (PSG), during which several parameters are measured throughout the night, including airflow, electroencephalography, electromyography, oxygen desaturation and heart rate. Using these measures, OSA severity is quantified by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), capturing the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep.
The standard treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which opens the upper airway by creating a pneumatic splint. Alternative treatments include mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment, which (re)opens the upper airway by protruding the mandible, positional therapy to avoid supine position, drug treatments, hypoglossal nerve stimulation treatment and other surgical treatments. While CPAP is characterized by an overall greater efficacy, adherence might be limited. Non-CPAP treatments are characterized by a higher adherence, yet their efficacy is patient dependent.
Respiration-synchronized hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is an innovative technique in which the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated to protrude the tongue during inspiration. While HNS has demonstrated clinical efficacy, its impact on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA remains insufficiently understood. Five pathophysiological parameters are known to be associated with OSA treatment outcome: site of collapse, upper airway collapsibility, ventilatory control instability (loop gain), muscle responsiveness and arousal threshold. These key pathophysiological traits have also been shown to be associated with HNS treatment outcome.
Currently, only the site of collapse is routinely assessed in clinical practice using drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The remaining traits, particularly collapsibility, usually require complex overnight pressure-drop studies that are not feasible for routine clinical use. Collapsibility is commonly assessed in research using the critical closing pressure (Pcrit), where a higher Pcrit indicates a more collapsible airway.
A recent technique developed by our research group allows for the assessment of the critical closing pressure (Pcrit) during DISE using a modified nasal mask and CPAP device. While the clinical effectiveness of HNS is proven, its specific effect on upper airway collapsibility is unknown.
This study aims to quantify the effect of HNS on upper airway collapsibility by measuring Pcrit during DISE, both with and without active stimulation. This research is vital for understanding the mechanical effects of HNS therapy and may ultimately improve patient selection and the delivery of personalized medicine for OSA.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Patients who undergo hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy will be recruited at the one year follow-up appointment at the department of ENT. As part of the standard clinical pathway, these patients will have a PSG and DISE planned one year after HNS-therapy intiation. Participants of this study will be invited to to have their one year follow-up DISE extended with additional measurements to assess the effect of HNS therapy on upper airway collapsibility.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DISE extended with additional measurements | Experimental | Procedure: Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)Patients who undergo hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy will be recruited at the one year follow-up appointment at the department of ENT. As part of the standard clinical pathway, these patients will have a PSG and DISE planned one year after HNS-therapy intiation. Participants of this study will be invited to to have their one year follow-up DISE extended with additional measurements to assess the effect of HNS therapy on upper airway collapsibility. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 18 years or older.
- Treated with HNS-therapy for OSA (AHI ≥15/hour sleep)
- Capable of giving informed consent
- Baseline polysomnography performed at Antwerp University Hospital
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients did not receive HNS-therapy at the Antwerp University Hospital
- Central apneas accounting for ≥25% of total apneas during baseline polysomnography
- Known medical history of intellectual disability, memory disorders or current psychiatric disorders (psychotic illness, major depression, or acute anxiety attacks as mentioned by the participant).
- Simultaneous use of other treatment modalities to treat OSA (outside of HNS-therapy)
- Esophageal ulceration, tumors, diverticulitis, bleeding varices, sinusitis, epistaxis, recent nasopharyngeal surgery
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)During standard DISE, type I polysomnography (Alice LDx 6, Philips Respironics) expanded with measurements of Pcrit (Pcrit3000 device, Philips Respironics) and airflow (Pneumotachometer, Hans-Rudolph, USA) will be performed. | Procedure or surgery | DISE extended with additional measurements |
Primary outcome
ΔPcrit
Time frame: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
Change in pharyngeal critical closing pressure (ΔPcrit), between baseline Pcrit and Pcrit with HNS. Both Pcrit measurements will be performed on the same day, during the 1-year follow-up DISE.
3 secondary outcomes
ΔPcrit in responders and in non-responders
Time frame: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
∆AHI from baseline to one-year follow-up
Time frame: From baseline (PSG at baseline, before implantation of hypoglossal nerve stimulator) to one-year follow-up
Δ%area-of-collapse at the level of the palate, tongue base, lateral walls and epiglottis
Time frame: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 35622197Lou B, Rusk S, Nygate YN, Quintero L, Ishikawa O, Shikowitz M, Greenberg H. Association of hypoglossal nerve stimulator response with machine learning identified negative effort dependence patterns. Sleep Breath. 2023 May;27(2):519-525. doi: 10.1007/s11325-022-02641-y. Epub 2022 May 27.
- Background: PubMed 8855039Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF. The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 1996 Feb;19(2):156-77. doi: 10.1093/sleep/19.2.156.
- Background: PubMed 30810164Bamagoos AA, Cistulli PA, Sutherland K, Ngiam J, Burke PGR, Bilston LE, Butler JE, Eckert DJ. Dose-dependent effects of mandibular advancement on upper airway collapsibility and muscle function in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2019 Jun 11;42(6):zsz049. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz049.
- Background: PubMed 35273554Kazemeini E, Van de Perck E, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken J, Op de Beeck S, Vanderveken OM. Critical to Know Pcrit: A Review on Pharyngeal Critical Closing Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Front Neurol. 2022 Feb 22;13:775709. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.775709. eCollection 2022.
- Background: PubMed 35112928Kazemeini E, Van de Perck E, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken J, Sands SA, Vanderveken OM, Op de Beeck S. Critical closing pressure of the pharyngeal airway during routine drug-induced sleep endoscopy: feasibility and protocol. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 Apr 1;132(4):925-937. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00624.2021. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
- Background: PubMed 3372436Smith PL, Wise RA, Gold AR, Schwartz AR, Permutt S. Upper airway pressure-flow relationships in obstructive sleep apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1988 Feb;64(2):789-95. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1988.64.2.789.
- Background: PubMed 23349453Wellman A, Edwards BA, Sands SA, Owens RL, Nemati S, Butler J, Passaglia CL, Jackson AC, Malhotra A, White DP. A simplified method for determining phenotypic traits in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Apr;114(7):911-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00747.2012. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
- Background: PubMed 23674933Vanderveken OM, Maurer JT, Hohenhorst W, Hamans E, Lin HS, Vroegop AV, Anders C, de Vries N, Van de Heyning PH. Evaluation of drug-induced sleep endoscopy as a patient selection tool for implanted upper airway stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):433-8. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2658.
- Background: PubMed 32970962Op de Beeck S, Wellman A, Dieltjens M, Strohl KP, Willemen M, Van de Heyning PH, Verbraecken JA, Vanderveken OM, Sands SA; STAR Trial Investigators. Endotypic Mechanisms of Successful Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 15;203(6):746-755. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202006-2176OC.
- Background: PubMed 23721582Eckert DJ, White DP, Jordan AS, Malhotra A, Wellman A. Defining phenotypic causes of obstructive sleep apnea. Identification of novel therapeutic targets. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Oct 15;188(8):996-1004. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201303-0448OC.
- Background: PubMed 24401051Strollo PJ Jr, Soose RJ, Maurer JT, de Vries N, Cornelius J, Froymovich O, Hanson RD, Padhya TA, Steward DL, Gillespie MB, Woodson BT, Van de Heyning PH, Goetting MG, Vanderveken OM, Feldman N, Knaack L, Strohl KP; STAR Trial Group. Upper-airway stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. N Engl J Med. 2014 Jan 9;370(2):139-49. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1308659.
- Background: PubMed 28983236Vanderveken OM, Beyers J, Op de Beeck S, Dieltjens M, Willemen M, Verbraecken JA, De Backer WA, Van de Heyning PH. Development of a Clinical Pathway and Technical Aspects of Upper Airway Stimulation Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Front Neurosci. 2017 Sep 21;11:523. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00523. eCollection 2017.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Additional measurements during clinical standard follow-up drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by University Hospital, Antwerp at 1 site in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Eldar Tukanov, MD (+32 3 436 82 47, eldar.tukanov@uantwerpen.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
ΔPcrit (time frame: One year after HNS implantation, during the 1-year follow-up DISE (= DISE at baseline & DISE with HNS)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07337239, which also lists 20 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jan 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.