External nasal dilation reduces snoring in chronic rhinitis patients: a randomized controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Chronic rhinitis patients often suffer from unrefreshing sleep and snoring, related to increased nasal resistance to airflow. Previous trials based on subjective assessment of snoring have demonstrated beneficial effects of Breathe Right (BR), a noninvasive external nasal dilator. Polysomnography (PSG) was applied to objectively assess the effects of BR on snoring. Twelve nonobese chronic rhinitis patients participated in the present study, which had a randomized, placebo-controlled design. The presence of snoring and the absence of sleep apnoea was demonstrated during a baseline overnight sleep study. Patients were then randomized for placebo or true nasal dilator treatment, which was also assessed by overnight PSG. The use of BR had no effect on sleep quality, arousal-index apnoea-hypopnoea-index or snoring loudness. Snoring frequency was significantly lowered by BR (173+/-29 snores x h(-l)), compared with placebo (258+/-34 snores x h(-1); p=0.016). The results support the hypothesis that Breathe Right is effective in reducing the amount of snoring in patients with chronic rhinitis. This objective finding is in line with some other reports on subjective improvement of snoring, based upon the judgement of bedpartners.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
These treatments have not demonstrated a significant, persistent change in apnea-hypopnea index or improvement in sleep quality.
“but has not demonstrated a significant, persistent change in AHI or improvement in sleep quality.”
From International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023) · cites this paper as [904]
The Results and Discussion (pages not provided) report no significant difference in AHI or measured sleep characteristics between the nasal dilator and placebo in nonobese patients with chronic rhinitis. The Trial protocol describes overnight testing of one dilator, not long-term follow-up or multiple treatments, so the paper cannot establish the broader or persistent-treatment claim. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTopical nasal decongestion and/or external dilator strips for chronic nasal obstruction have been shown to decrease snoring.
“Topical nasal decongestion and/or external dilator strip for chronic nasal obstruction has been shown to decrease snoring”
From International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023) · cites this paper as [904]
The Abstract (page not provided) reports that Breathe Right external nasal dilator strips significantly reduced snoring frequency in 12 nonobese patients with chronic rhinitis, though not snoring loudness. The Discussion (page not provided) says topical decongestants can relieve nasal stuffiness, but does not show that they decrease snoring. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Rechtschaffen, A. (1968) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 11,772 · see citing works
Hobson, J. A. (1969) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(69)90021-2 · Cited by 5,215 · see citing works
Nasal obstruction as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing
Young, T., Finn, L., & Kim, H. (1997) · Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(97)70124-6 · Cited by 505 · see citing works
Pharyngeal Fat in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Shelton, K. E., Woodson, H., Gay, S., & Suratt, P. M. (1993) · American Review of Respiratory Disease · doi:10.1164/ajrccm/148.2.462 · Cited by 458 · see citing works
Committee report on standardization of rhinomanometry.
Kern, E. B. (1981) · PubMed · Cited by 412 · see citing works
American Sleep Disorders Association
Peter, H., Penzel, T., Peter, J. H., & Peter, J. G. (2025) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65186-5_300098 · Cited by 341 · see citing works
Lung Volume Dependence of Pharyngeal Cross-Sectional Area in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Hoffstein, V., Zamel, N., & Phillipson, E. A. (1984) · American Review of Respiratory Disease · doi:10.1164/arrd.1984.130.2.175 · Cited by 332 · see citing works
Obstructive apneas during sleep in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
(1982) · PubMed · doi:10.1164/arrd.1982.126.4.625 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
Committee report on standardization of rhinomanometry.
Clement, P. A. (1984) · PubMed · Cited by 254 · see citing works
Effect of nasal dilation on snoring and apneas during different stages of sleep
Hoffstein, V., Mateika, S., & Metes, A. (1993) · Sleep · doi:10.1093/sleep/16.4.360 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
The Effects of Nasal Dilation on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Hoijer, U., Ejnell, H., Hedner, J., Petruson, B., & Eng, L. B. (1992) · Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · doi:10.1001/archotol.1992.01880030069015 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Nasal Influences on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Olsen, K. D., & Kern, E. B. (1990) · Mayo Clinic Proceedings · doi:10.1016/s0025-6196(12)62722-0 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Physiologic Effects of an External Nasal Dilator
Griffin, J. W., Hunter, G. R., Ferguson, D., et al. (1997) · The Laryngoscope · doi:10.1097/00005537-199709000-00014 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Rbtis medicamentosa: aspects of pathophysiology and treatment
Gräf, P. (1997) · Allergy · doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb04881.x · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Effect of nasal surgery on snoring
FAIRBANKS, D. N. F. (1985) · Southern Medical Journal · doi:10.1097/00007611-198503000-00009 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Nasal airway dilation and obstructed breathing in sleep
Metes, A., Cole, P., Hoffstein, V., & Miljeteig, H. (1992) · The Laryngoscope · doi:10.1288/00005537-199209000-00017 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
A Subjective Evaluation of a Nasal Dilator on Sleep & Snoring
Scharf, M. B., & McDannold, M. D. (1994) · Ear Nose & Throat Journal · doi:10.1177/014556139407300609 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
(1998) · PubMed · Cited by 41 · see citing works
(1997) · PubMed · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Effects of the Breathe Right Nasal Strips on Nasal Ventilation
Gosepath, J., Mann, W. J., & Amedee, R. G. (1997) · American Journal of Rhinology · doi:10.2500/105065897781285990 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
The Role of Nasal Obstruction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Papsidero, M. J. (1993) · Ear Nose & Throat Journal · doi:10.1177/014556139307200118 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Effects of Breathe Right™ on snoring: a polysomnographic study
Liistro, G., Rombaux, P., Dury, M., Pieters, T., Aubert, G., & Rodenstein, D. O. (1998) · Respiratory Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0954-6111(98)90358-4 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Clinical evaluation of the nasal dilator Nozovent. The effect on snoring and dryness of the mouth.
Petruson, B., & Theman, K. (1992) · PubMed · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Cyclic Alternating Pattern Sequences in Non-Apneic Snorers with and without Nasal Dilation
Scharf, M. B., McDannold, M. D., Zaretsky, N., et al. (1996) · Ear Nose & Throat Journal · doi:10.1177/014556139607500911 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Nasal Obstructions, Sleep, and Mental Function
Lavie, P. (1983) · SLEEP · doi:10.1093/sleep/6.3.244 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Pharyngeal fat in obstructive sleep apnea
Ferguson, B. J. (1994) · American Journal of Otolaryngology · doi:10.1016/0196-0709(94)90108-2 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [6]6. Hoffstein V. Snoring. Chest 1996; 109: 201±222.
- [23]23. Graf P. Rhinitis medicamentosa: aspects of pathophy- siology and treatment. Allergy 1997; 52: 28±34.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Chang, J. L., Goldberg, A. N., Alt, J. A., Mohammed, A., Ashbrook, L., Auckley, D., Ayappa, I., Bakhtiar, H., Barrera, J. E., Bartley, B. L., et al. (2023) · International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology · doi:10.1002/alr.23079 · Cited by 350 · see citing works
The role of the nose in snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea: an update
Georgalas, C. (2011) · European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology · doi:10.1007/s00405-010-1469-7 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Effect of treating severe nasal obstruction on the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea
McLean, H. A., Urton, A. M., Driver, H. S., Tan, A. K. W., Day, A. G., Munt, P. W., & Fitzpatrick, M. F. (2005) · European Respiratory Journal · doi:10.1183/09031936.05.00045004 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Impact of Nasal Obstruction on Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Friedman, M., Maley, A., Kelley, K., Leesman, C., Patel, A., Pulver, T., Joseph, N., & Catli, T. (2011) · Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery · doi:10.1177/0194599811400977 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Nasal Obstruction Considerations in Sleep Apnea
Awad, M. I., & Kacker, A. (2018) · Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.otc.2018.05.012 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Amaro, A. C. S., Duarte, F. H. G., Jallad, R. S., Bronstein, M. D., Redline, S., & Lorenzi-Filho, G. (2012) · Clinics · doi:10.6061/clinics/2012(05)11 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Sleep disturbance in persistent allergic rhinitis measured using actigraphy
Rimmer, J., Downie, S., Bartlett, D. J., Gralton, J., & Salome, C. (2009) · Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology · doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60180-9 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pevernagie, D., Hamans, E., Van Cauwenberge, P., & Pauwels, R.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University Hospital (BE)
- Venue
- European Respiratory Journal
- Publisher
- European Respiratory Society (ERS)
- Published
- 2000-06
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 996
- ISSN
- 0903-1936 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-3003
- OpenAlex
- W2121161463
- Semantic Scholar
- fb7dcf9420beaf95e41e9847c61b71531ef6b8aa
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Respiratory Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Sinusitis and nasal conditions
- Keywords
- chronic rhinitis, snoring, nasal resistance, sleep apnea, polysomnography, snoring frequency, sleep quality, arousal index
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Chronic Disease, Dilatation, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nose, Placebos, Prospective Studies, Rhinitis, Sleep, Snoring, Nasal Obstruction, Polysomnography, Cross-Over Studies
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
