Influence of passive humidification on nasal conditioning

Affecting factors and seasonal effects on the continuous positive airway pressure adherence of patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the preferred treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but adherence remains challenging. This study identifies factors influencing CPAP adherence, including the impact of Korea's four distinct seasons. A retrospective study of 650 patients with OSA and prescribed with CPAP was conducted at a single institution from January 2018 to December 2020, and the patients' answers on various sleep questionnaires, demographic and polysomnographic data, and when and whether they returned the CPAP devices were collected and analyzed. The sample population was divided into when and whether the CPAP device was returned to the institution and the average daily use of the CPAP device. Results show that treatment failure is high in the first 12 weeks. Moreover, patients with more severe sleep apnea tended to have severe OSA-related clinical symptoms and are more likely to adhere to the treatment. In this study show that the seasons did not affect CPAP adherence because of indoor environmental factors. However, results show that other patient factors, such as BMI, AHI, RDI, daytime drowsiness, mood changes, and other OSA-related symptoms, have greater effects on CPAP adherence than seasonal change. Initial positive experience is important to adapt to the CPAP, and for this reason, more active intervention by sleep physicians during the initial CPAP adaptation is necessary.

"Healthy" eye in office-like environments

Eye irritation symptoms, e.g. dry eyes, are common and abundant symptoms reported in office-like environments, e.g. aircraft cabins. To improve the understanding of indoor related eye symptomatology, relevant knowledge from the ophthalmological and indoor environmental science literature has been merged. A number of environmental (relative humidity, temperature, draft), occupational (e.g. visual display unit work), and individual (e.g. gender, use of cosmetics, and medication) risk factors have been identified, which are associated with alteration of the precorneal tear film (PTF); these factors may subsequently exacerbate development of eye irritation symptoms by desiccation. Low relative humidity including reduced atmospheric pressure further increases the water evaporation from an altered PTF; in addition, work with visual display units may destabilize the PTF by lower eye blink frequency and larger ocular surface. Results from epidemiological and clinical studies support that relative humidity >40% is beneficial for the PTF. Only few pollutants reach high enough indoor concentrations to cause sensory irritation of the eyes, while an altered PTF may exacerbate their sensory effect. Sustained low relative humidity causes impairment of the PTF, while its stability, including work performance, is retained by low gaze and intermittent breaks.

Influence of nasal sponges on patients' complaints after nasal and sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of nasal sponges on the subjective nasal well-being after nasal and sinus surgery.

METHODS

The study was designed as a randomized prospective clinical trial comparing four different types of sponges used as nasal passive humidifiers (NPHs). The 40 participants were blinded to the size and pore structure of the NPHs. The NPHs were applied in both nostrils for 1 hour on the 2nd postoperative day. Subjective nasal sensations were evaluated on a visual analog scale.

RESULTS

Wearing comfort was rated as satisfactory. Intranasal humidity and feeling of a dry nose were rated as improved after wearing the NPHs.

CONCLUSION

The use of NPHs may have a positive effect on the patients' perception of nasal obstruction and intranasal humidity. Additional investigations in patients with intranasal dryness are planned to improve patients' complaints.

The dichotomy of relative humidity on indoor air quality

Dry and irritated mucous membranes of the eyes and airways are common symptoms reported in office-like environments. Earlier studies suggested that indoor pollutants were responsible. We have re-evaluated, by review of the literature, how low relative humidity (RH) may influence the immediately perceived indoor air quality (IAQ), including odour, and cause irritation symptoms (i.e. longer-term perceived IAQ). "Relative humidity" were searched in major databases, and combined with: air quality, cabin air, dry eyes, formaldehyde, inflammation, mucous membranes, offices, ozone, pungency, sensory irritation, particles, precorneal tear film, sick building syndrome, stuffy air, and VOCs. The impact of RH on the immediately and longer-term perceived IAQ by VOCs, ozone, and particles is complex, because both the thermodynamic condition and the emission characteristics of building materials are influenced. Epidemiological, clinical, and human exposure studies indicate that low RH plays a role in the increase of reporting eye irritation symptoms and alteration of the precorneal tear film. These effects may be exacerbated during visual display unit work. The recommendation that IAQ should be "dry and cool" may be useful for evaluation of the immediately perceived IAQ in material emission testing, but should be considered cautiously about the development of irritation symptoms in eyes and upper airways during a workday. Studies indicate that RH about 40% is better for the eyes and upper airways than levels below 30%. The optimal RH may differ for the eyes and the airways regarding desiccation of the mucous membranes.