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Physical predictors for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in snoring patients

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to identify physical findings that may predict the presence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in snoring patients.

Methods

A total of 283 subjects (165 males and 118 females) were recruited, including 217 OSA patients and 66 patients with apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) < 5 as a control group, diagnosed by level-1 polysomnography. Baseline data of patients including age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), neck-to-height ratio (NHtR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were recorded. Other physical parameters such as chin length (Chin1), thyromental distance, hyomental distance, cricomental distance, cricomental space (CMS), Friedman tongue position (FTP), and tonsils size were recorded by a single investigator who was blinded to the PSG results.

Results

The findings that were statistically different between the control group and moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15) included sex, BMI, NC, NHtR, WC, WHtR, Chin1, CM, and CMS (p < 0.05). However, logistic regression analysis showed that only male gender and WHtR ≥ 0.55 were the independent predictors for AHI ≥ 15 with adjusted odds ratios of 6.6 and 3.1, respectively.

Conclusion

Among snoring patients seeking medical consultation, male gender and WHtR of ≥ 0.55 were good predictors for moderate to severe OSA. No single head and neck finding reliably predicted this condition. In a situation with limited facilities, these data along with medical history may be helpful for prioritizing patients in order to achieve the optimal use of sleep investigation and treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. Our grateful appreciation is expressed to Dr. Chulaluck Komoltree; our consulting statistician, Dr. Anuch Durongphan and Ms. Jeerapa Kerdnoppakhun; our research assistants, for their kind contributions. We also would like to thank all staffs of the Department of OtoRhinoLaryngology, Siriraj Hospital as well as the patients who were involved in this project.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of OtoRhinoLaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Phrannok Rd, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, Thailand, 10700

    Wish Banhiran, Attapon Junlapan, Paraya Assanasen & Cheerasook Chongkolwatana

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  1. Wish Banhiran
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  2. Attapon Junlapan
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Correspondence to Wish Banhiran.

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Banhiran, W., Junlapan, A., Assanasen, P. et al. Physical predictors for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in snoring patients. Sleep Breath 18, 151–158 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0863-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-013-0863-y

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