Can intraoral and facial photos predict obstructive sleep apnea in the general and clinical population?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate and compare measurements of standardized craniofacial and intraoral photographs between clinical and general population samples, between groups of individuals with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 and AHI < 15, and their interaction, as well as the relationship with the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: We used data from 929 participants from Sleep Apnea Global Interdisciplinary Consortium, in which 309 patients from a clinical setting and 620 volunteers from a general population. RESULTS: AHI ≥ 15 were observed in 30.3% of the total sample and there were some interactions between facial/intraoral measures with OSA and both samples. Mandibular volume (p < 0.01) and lateral face height (p = 0.04) were higher in the AHI ≥ 15 group in the clinical sample compared to the AHI ≥ 15 group in the general population and AHI < 15 group in the clinical sample. When adjusted for sex and age, greater mandible width (p < 0.01) differed both in the clinical and in the general population samples, reflecting AHI severity and the likelihood of OSA. The measure of smaller tongue curvature (p < 0.01) reflected the severity and probability of OSA in the clinical sample and the higher posterior mandibular height (p = 0.04) showed a relationship with higher AHI and higher risk of OSA in the general population. When adjusted for sex, age, and body mass index, only smaller tongue curvature (p < 0.01) was associated with moderate/severe OSA. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of greater tongue and mandible were associated with increased OSA risk in the clinical sample and craniofacial measurement was associated in the general population sample.

Using craniofacial characteristics to predict optimum airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea treatment / Uso de características craniofaciais para predizer a pressão ideal nas vias aéreas notratamento da apneia obstrutiva do sono

Abstract Introduction: Manual titration is the gold standard to determinate optimal continuous positive airway pressure, and the prediction of the optimal pressure is important to avoid delays in prescribing a continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Objective: To verify whether anthropometric, polysomnographic, cephalometric, and upper airway clinical assessments can predict the optimal continuous positive airway pressure setting for obstructive sleep apnea patients. Methods: Fifty men between 25 and 65 years, with body mass indexes of less than or equal to 35 kg/m2 were selected. All patients had baseline polysomnography followed by cephalometric and otolaryngological clinical assessments. On a second night, titration polysomnography was carried out to establish the optimal pressure. Results: The average age of the patients was 43 ± 12.3 years, with a mean body mass index of 27.1 ± 3.4 kg/m2 and an apnea-hypopnea index of 17.8 ± 10.5 events per hour. Smaller mandibular length (p = 0.03), smaller atlas-jaw distance (p = 0.03), and the presence of a Mallampati III and IV (p = 0.02) were predictors for higher continuous positive airway pressure. The formula for the optimal continuous positive airway pressure was: 17.244 − (0.133 × jaw length) + (0.969 × Mallampati III and IV classification) − (0.926 × atlas-jaw distance). Conclusion: In a sample of male patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, the optimal continuous positive airway pressure was predicted using the mandibular length, atlas-jaw distance and Mallampati classification.

Resumo Introdução: A titulação manual é o padrão-ouro para determinar a pressão ideal para o tratamento com a pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas; e a predição da pressão ideal é importante para evitar retardos na sua prescrição. Objetivo: Verificar se as avaliações clínicas antropométricas, polissonográficas, cefalométricas e das vias aéreas superiores podem predizer a configuração ideal da pressão do aparelho de pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas para pacientes com apneia obstrutiva do sono. Método: Foram selecionados 50 homens entre 25 e 65 anos, com índice de massa corporal menor ou igual a 35 kg/m2. Todos os pacientes fizeram polissonografia basal, seguida de avaliações clínicas cefalométricas e otorrinolaringológicas. Na segunda noite, foi feita polissonografia de titulação para estabelecer a pressão ideal. Resultados: A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 43 ± 12,3 anos, com índice de massa corporal médio de 27,1 ± 3,4 kg/m2 e índice de apneia-hipopneia de 17,8 ± 10,5 eventos por hora. Menor comprimento mandibular (p = 0,03), menor distância atlas-maxila (p = 0,03) e a presença de Mallampati III e IV (p = 0,02) foram preditores de pressão mais elevada. A fórmula para a pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas foi: 17,24 - (0,133 × comprimento da mandíbula) + (0,969 × classificação de Mallampati III e IV) - (0,926 × distância atlas-mandíbula). Conclusão: Em uma amostra de homens com apneia obstrutiva do sono leve a moderada, a pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas foi predita com o comprimento mandibular, a distância atlas-mandíbula e a classificação de Mallampati.

Using craniofacial characteristics to predict optimum airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Manual titration is the gold standard to determinate optimal continuous positive airway pressure, and the prediction of the optimal pressure is important to avoid delays in prescribing a continuous positive airway pressure treatment. OBJECTIVE: To verify whether anthropometric, polysomnographic, cephalometric, and upper airway clinical assessments can predict the optimal continuous positive airway pressure setting for obstructive sleep apnea patients. METHODS: Fifty men between 25 and 65 years, with body mass indexes of less than or equal to 35kg/m2 were selected. All patients had baseline polysomnography followed by cephalometric and otolaryngological clinical assessments. On a second night, titration polysomnography was carried out to establish the optimal pressure. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 43±12.3 years, with a mean body mass index of 27.1±3.4kg/m2 and an apnea-hypopnea index of 17.8±10.5 events per hour. Smaller mandibular length (p=0.03), smaller atlas-jaw distance (p=0.03), and the presence of a Mallampati III and IV (p=0.02) were predictors for higher continuous positive airway pressure. The formula for the optimal continuous positive airway pressure was: 17.244-(0.133×jaw length)+(0.969×Mallampati III and IV classification)-(0.926×atlas-jaw distance). CONCLUSION: In a sample of male patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, the optimal continuous positive airway pressure was predicted using the mandibular length, atlas-jaw distance and Mallampati classification.

Myofunctional therapy improves adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated myofunctional therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of myofunctional therapy on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence. METHODS: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01289405). Male patients with OSAS were randomly divided into four treatment groups: placebo, patients undergoing placebo myofunctional therapy (N = 24); myofunctional therapy, undergoing myofunctional therapy (N = 27); CPAP, undergoing treatment with CPAP (N = 27); and combined, undergoing CPAP therapy and myofunctional therapy (N = 22). All patients underwent evaluations before and after 3 months of treatment evaluation and after 3 weeks of washout. Evaluations included Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), polysomnography, and myofunctional evaluation. RESULTS: The 100 men had a mean age of 48.1 ± 11.2 years, body mass index of 27.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2, ESS score of 12.7 ± 3.0, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 30.9 ± 20.6. All treated groups (myofunctional therapy, CPAP, and combined myofunctional therapy with CPAP) showed decreased ESS and snoring, and the myofunctional therapy group maintained this improvement after the "washout" period. AHI reduction occurred in all treated groups and was more significant in CPAP group. The myofunctional therapy and combined groups showed improvement in tongue and soft palate muscle strength when compared with the placebo group. The association of myofunctional therapy to CPAP (combined group) showed an increased adherence to CPAP compared with the CPAP group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in patients with OSAS, myofunctional therapy may be considered as an adjuvant treatment and an intervention strategy to support adherence to CPAP.

Clinical and polysomnographic findings of patients with large goiters: polysomnographic findings of large goiters.

INTRODUCTION: Goiters cause a series of compressive symptoms, including dyspnea and dysphagia. There have been reports of the coexistence of this syndrome with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of OSA in a group of patients with goiters. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 52.7 ± 12.7 years, including five males (20.8 %) and 19 (79.2 %) females, who were diagnosed with euthyroid goiters with volumes exceeding 100 ml were consecutively selected. The protocol consisted of sleep questionnaires, physical examinations, and baseline polysomnography measurements. Patients were divided into two groups, OSA and NOSA (no OSA), and all findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the studied patients, 70.8 % had OSA (p = 0.004). Regarding clinical parameters, age (p = 0.001), Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores (p = 0.039) and complaints of habitual snoring (p < 0.001) had higher values in the OSA group. Regarding physical examination parameters, body mass index (p = 0.012), neck circumference (p = 0.009) and the presence of tracheal compression (p = 0.021) had higher values in the OSA group. The polysomnographic parameters that were significantly different between the two groups were the greater apnea and hypopnea index per hour of sleep (p < 0.001) and the lower minimum oxyhemoglobin saturation in the OSA group (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of OSA in patients with goiters. The main findings that were associated with the presence of OSA are known clinical predictors of OSA and the presence of tracheal compression.