Patient setting
From January to July 2021, adults with moderate or severe OSAS at the polysomnography (PSG) [4] were recruited from the Sleep Center of Poitiers Elsan Polyclinic. The local ethics committee approved the study protocol (Elsan Ethics Committee, 20.11.13.75306/CPP2020-12-103a/2020-A02419-30L, Elsan). Reporting guidelines for prospective studies (CONSORT Statements) have been respected. Patients consented to participate. Patients completed a comprehensive diagnostic sleep study. OSAS severity was scored according to the report of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine based on the patient’s apnea hypopnea index (AHI): mild (5-14 events/hour); moderate (15-30 events/hour); or severe (>30 events/hour) [4]. PSG examinations were read and interpreted by a board-certified otolaryngologist (FB). The exclusion criteria included mental health disorders, smoking, alcoholism, heart or neurological severe disorders, history of head and neck cancer or radiation, chronic rhinosinusitis or 1-month history of upper aerodigestive tract infection.