Marinela Santo

Mrs. Marinela Santo


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 February 2025 in Applied Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Vasileios T. StavrouVasileios T. Stavrou
Vasileios T. Stavrou
GVGeorge D. Vavougios
George D. Vavougios
GTGlykeria Tsirimona
Glykeria Tsirimona
Stylianos BoutlasStylianos Boutlas
Stylianos Boutlas
MSMarinela Santo
Marinela Santo
Konstantinos I. GourgoulianisKonstantinos I. Gourgoulianis
Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 4-week respiratory muscle training (RMT) intervention versus continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiorespiratory parameters and cognitive function in patients with OSA. Twenty-eight male patients with OSA were divided into two groups (RMTgroup n = 14 and CPAPgroup n = 14) and we recorded cardiopulmonary parameters and completed the questionnaires for cognitive impairment (MoCA) and sleep quality (PSQI) before and after 4 weeks. We observed differences before and after the intervention in cardiopulmonary parameters: RMTgroup: breathing reserve (p < 0.001) and oxygen breathing (p = 0.002), at the end of the exercise test and pulse-respiratory quotient at rest (p < 0.001), end of exercise (p = 0.020), and recovery (p < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (RMTgroupp = 0.035, CPAPgroupp = 0.032); cognitive function assessment: RMTgroup: 7% improvement in MoCAscore (p < 0. 001). and in the attention–working memory domain by 13% (p = 0.001), CPAPgroup: improvement in the short-term memory recall domain by 28% (p = 0.001) and in the visuospatial domain by 18% (p = 0.027); sleep quality scores: RMTgroup: 22% improvement in PSQIscore (p = 0.013), and 50% reduction in ‘cannot breathe comfortably’ domain (p = 0.013), CPAPgroup: 31% increase in ‘waking in the middle of the night or early in the morning’ domain (p = 0.044). Our findings support the implementation of RMT programs in patients with OSA as an effective and beneficial practice to promote exercise and reduce symptoms of sleep disturbance.