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Does tongue size differ between patients with and without sleep-disordered breathing?
K L Do1, H Ferreyra, J F Healy
1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|September 13, 2000
Summary
Patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may have larger tongue volumes, which correlate with BMI and neck circumference but not disease severity. Tongue size alone does not determine SDB severity.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Sleep medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects numerous individuals, with potential contributing factors being investigated.
- Tongue size is a potential anatomical factor in SDB, but its relationship with disease severity and patient characteristics requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in tongue volume between patients with and without SDB.
- To assess the correlation between tongue volume and clinical parameters such as BMI, neck circumference, age, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 19 patients (9 with SDB, 10 without SDB).
- Data collection included sleep questionnaires (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), physical examination, portable sleep studies, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Tongue volume was measured from MRI scans by an examiner blinded to patient diagnosis.
Main Results:
- A trend indicated larger tongue volumes in patients with SDB compared to those without (P = .065).
- Tongue volume showed a significant positive correlation with Body Mass Index (BMI) (P = .005) and neck circumference (P = .013).
- No significant correlation was found between tongue volume and age (P = .23) or AHI (P = .40).
Conclusions:
- A statistical trend suggests larger tongue size in SDB patients, but it is independent of AHI.
- Tongue size significantly correlates with BMI and neck circumference.
- Tongue size variations alone may not explain SDB severity and could reflect overall body habitus in affected individuals.
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