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Published on: December 6, 2016
Swallowing function and upper airway sensation in obstructive sleep apnea
Vincent Jobin1, Victoria Champagne, Josée Beauregard
1Respiratory Division and Sleep Laboratory, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University Health Centre, Quebec, Canada. .
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|December 23, 2006
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impairs upper airway sensation, affecting swallowing reflexes. Despite normal swallowing volumes, OSA patients exhibit shorter swallowing latency, suggesting sensory deficits impact airway control.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to potential sensory and motor deficits.
- Upper airway (UA) sensation plays a critical role in protective reflexes, including swallowing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between impaired upper airway (UA) mucosal sensation and altered swallowing function in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Main Methods:
- Assessed two-point discrimination threshold (2PDT) and vibratory sensation threshold (VST) in 15 men with untreated OSA and 9 controls.
- Evaluated swallowing responses to oropharyngeal fluid boluses, measuring threshold volume, latency, and respiratory cycle alterations (%CCD, IST).
Main Results:
- OSA patients demonstrated significantly impaired 2PDT and VST compared to controls.
- Swallowing latency was shorter in OSA patients, though threshold volumes were similar.
- A significant inverse relationship was found between VST and IST in OSA patients.
Conclusions:
- Oropharyngeal sensory impairment in OSA is associated with altered swallowing control.
- Reduced sensation may attenuate inhibitory inputs regulating swallowing reflexes and central control in the upper airway.
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