Abstract
Although general experience has suggested that the lateral sleeping position is the most effective for patients with sleep-related respiratory disorders, few studies have demonstrated this observation using controlled conditions and objective indicators. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sleeping position of 200 patients with sleep-related respiratory disorders, including some in whom obesity played a role. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) improved when patients moved from the supine to the lateral position, but the improvement was only slight in patients with a high AHI or a tendency to obesity. These findings suggest that advising patients to sleep in the lateral position will only be effective for those with a moderate to low AHI, or a minimal tendency to obesity.
