Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery

Sleep Apnea

sleep apnea doctor and patient

Led by Dr. Yi Cai, our team is committed to advancing the field of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) through innovative research approaches. The team’s current interests range from investigating the cardiometabolic outcomes of OSA surgery to exploring the use of wearable sleep-tracking technologies to enhance the longitudinal care of patients with OSA. We work closely with our Sleep Surgery Center and colleagues in sleep research across multiple disciplines. Ultimately, our goal is to improve health and quality of life in patients with OSA.

Current Studies

Our current studies include the following:

  • Investigating the cardiometabolic outcomes of OSA surgeries. This research has the potential to produce the first studies revealing the impact of OSA surgery on mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and metabolic health.
  • Identifying factors that predict success with a newer surgical OSA therapy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation (Inspire therapy).
  • Applying wearable sleep-tracking technologies to understand patient outcomes and symptoms during OSA therapy. An example pilot study recently published by our group: Oura Ring metrics in Inspire thferapy patients.
  • Understanding patient treatment goals and developing shared decision-making tools to enhance patient-centered care in sleep apnea.
  • Incorporating low-cost consumer technologies to facilitate virtual visits.

Mentored research

We have mentored several medical students and residents on prior research projects in sleep apnea. If you are interested in joining our projects, please contact us at sleepsurgery@cumc.columbia.edu.