Effects of Xinghanxiang Nasal Inhalation Therapy on Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome and Upper Airway Inflammation

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Xinghanxiang nasal inhalation therapy in treating obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and its effects on upper airway inflammation. Methods: A total of 180 patients with OSAHS were matched according to disease severity and randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group, with 90 patients in each group. In the control group, patients with mild OSAHS received routine therapy, whereas those with moderate to severe OSAHS received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. In the intervention group, patients with mild OSAHS received routine therapy plus Xinghanxiang nasal inhalation therapy, and those with moderate to severe OSAHS received routine therapy combined with Xinghanxiang nasal inhalation therapy along with CPAP therapy. Clinical symptoms, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 in nasal lavage fluid were evaluated. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in clinical symptoms (including quality-of-life scores), ESS, and AHI compared with baseline (P <0.05), with greater improvement observed in the intervention group (P <0.05). CRP and IL-6 levels in nasal lavage fluid decreased significantly in both groups after treatment, with more pronounced reductions in the intervention group (P <0.05). CRP levels in nasal lavage fluid were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P <0.05). IL-6 levels in nasal lavage fluid were significantly lower in patients with moderate to severe disease in the intervention group compared with the control group (P <0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed in patients with mild disease (P >0.05). Conclusions: Xinghanxiang nasal inhalation therapy significantly improves clinical symptoms in patients with OSAHS. Combined therapy with CPAP further improves ESS and AHI, with no significant adverse effects, supporting the need for large-scale studies and broader clinical application. Furthermore, Xinghanxiang nasal inhalation therapy significantly reduces CRP and IL-6 levels in nasal lavage fluid, suggesting that its mechanism of action may be related to alleviation of upper airway inflammation.