Australasian Sleep Association position statement on consensus and evidence based treatment for primary snoring

• Published in: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 110 - 119
• Main Authors: Sarkis, Leba M., Jones, Andrew C., Ng, Andrew, Pantin, Christopher, Appleton, Sarah L., MacKay, Stuart G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-02-2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Apnea; Benzodiazepines; Consensus; Humans; Mandibular Advancement - methods; non‐surgical; Patients; Position Paper; primary snoring; Quality of Life; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Snoring - etiology; Snoring - therapy; surgery; treatment; sleep; treatment; non-surgical; primary snoring; surgery
• ISSN: 1323-7799; 1440-1843
• DOI: 10.1111/resp.14443

Primary snoring impacts a significant portion of the adult population and has the potential to significantly impair quality of life. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide evidence‐based recommendations to assist Australasian practitioners in the management of adult patients who present with primary snoring without significant obstructive sleep apnoea. The Timetable, Methodology and Standards by which this Position Statement has been established is outlined in the Appendix S1.
The main recommendations are:
Weight loss, and reduced alcohol consumption should be recommended, where appropriate
If clinical judgement dictates, benzodiazepine and opioid reduction or avoidance may be advised
Positional therapy should be considered in supine dominant snorers
In dentate patients, Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) should be recommended as a first line treatment following assessment by both an appropriate Dentist and Sleep physician
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices may be recommended in patients with primary snoring in those already committed to their use or willing to try
Surgical treatment of primary snoring by an appropriately credentialled surgeon may be advised and includes nasal (adjunctive), palatal and other interventions
This position statement has been designed based on the best available current evidence and our combined expert clinical experience to facilitate the management of patients who present with primary snoring. It provides clinicians with a series of both non‐surgical and surgical options with the aim of achieving optimal symptom control and patient outcomes. This is the first such set of recommendations to be established within Australasia and has also been reviewed and endorsed by the Australasian Sleep Association.