Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Upper airway factors that protect against obstructive sleep apnoea in healthy older males
Thomas Carlisle1, Elliott R Carthy1, Martin Glasser2
1Academic Unit of Sleep and Breathing, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield Foundation Trust, London, UK Both authors contributed equally.
Abstract:
The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) increases with age, yet the risk factors for OSA in older people remain poorly understood. This study aimed to define the age-related changes in upper airway morphology in carefully matched groups of healthy older (>60 years, n=11) and younger (<40 years, n=14) males, using direct (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) and indirect (acoustic reflection) imaging. The median (interquartile range) combined retropalatal and retroglossal pharyngeal length was greater in older than in younger males (older 8.8 (7.8-9.0) cm, younger 7.8 (7.0-8.3) cm; p=0.03), as was the soft palate cross-sectional area (older 43.1 (36.0-48.8) cm(2), younger 35.3 (30.5-40.5) cm(2); p=0.03), parapharyngeal fat pad diameter (older 1.7 (1.4-2.2) cm, younger 1.2 (1.0-1.8) cm; p=0.03) and cross-sectional area of the fat pads (older 13.8 (9.1-17.1) cm(2); younger 7.4 (5.9-13.0) cm(2); p=0.02) as measured by MRI. Using acoustic reflection, pharyngeal calibre (older 4.8 (3.8-6.6) cm(2), younger 3.4 (2.8-4.6) cm(2); p=0.03), pharyngeal volume (older 35.1 (30.9-55.4) cm(3), younger 27.2 (22.7-44.2) cm(3); p=0.04) and glottis area (older 2.7 (2.1-3.9) cm(2), younger 1.3 (1.1-1.9) cm(2); p=0.003) were also larger in older participants compared with younger participants. There was no difference in craniofacial measures between groups, including volumetric data and hyoid bone position. The larger pharyngeal calibre observed in older males may be compensating for an age-related enlargement in pharyngeal soft tissue that predisposes to OSA.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Other Pulmonary Disorders
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....

