ISRCTN ISRCTN52803645
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN52803645
EudraCT/CTIS number 2018-000065-37
Secondary identifying numbers 40486; PB-PG-1216-20038
Submission date
08/01/2019
Registration date
17/01/2019
Last edited
25/11/2021
Recruitment status
Stopped
Overall study status
Stopped
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

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

Contact information

Mrs Emma Hedley
Public

ORTU
Churchill Hospital
Old Road
Headington
Oxford
-
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2444-6280
Phone +44 (0)1865 225205
Email emma.hedley@ouh.nhs.uk
Dr Justin Pepperell
Scientific

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Taunton
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1823 344635
Email justin.pepperell@tst.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Drug
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Home
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleRandomised 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
Study acronymDOSA
Study objectivesIn 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.
Ethics approval(s)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
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedObstructive sleep apnoea
InterventionThe 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.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase II/III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Xylometazoline
Primary outcome measureThe 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 measures1. 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 study start date01/07/2018
Completion date01/04/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)Lack of funding/sponsorship

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 232; UK Sample Size: 232
Key inclusion criteria1. 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
Key exclusion criteria1. 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
Date of first enrolment01/02/2019
Date of final enrolment01/02/2021

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit
Churchill Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7LE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Oxford
University/education

co Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit
Churchill Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7LE
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1865 857104
Email melissa.dobson@ouh.nhs.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/052gg0110

Funders

Funder type

Government

NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF); Grant Codes: PB-PG-1216-20038

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/04/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planThe 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 planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a repository.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

25/11/2021: The trial has been stopped as of 15/11/2021 due to a lack of funding.
05/10/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 01/10/2020 to 01/02/2021.
2. The intention to publish date has been changed from 01/07/2021 to 30/04/2022.
3. The overall trial end date has been changed from 01/02/2021 to 01/04/2021.
12/06/2020: Updated contact details.
21/05/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
25/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Respiratory Disorders, Primary sub-specialty: Sleep medicine; Health Category: Respiratory; Disease/Condition: Episodic and paroxysmal disorders" to "Obstructive sleep apnoea" following a request from the NIHR.