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Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Two subtypes of positional obstructive sleep apnea: Supine-predominant and supine-isolated
Keun Tae Kim1, Yong Won Cho1, Dong Eun Kim2
1Department of Neurology, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
Objectives:
The body position has a strong influence on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical features of two subtypes of positional OSA (POSA), namely supine-predominant OSA (spOSA) and supine-isolated OSA (siOSA), so as to discuss whether the two groups can be classified separately.
Methods:
A total of 279 consecutive patients with OSA were enrolled. The POSA was defined as having an overall apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ⩾ 5 with supine AHI > 2 times the non-supine AHI. Only those with ⩾ 30 min spent in the supine and non-supine sleeping positions were included, and split night studies were excluded from the study. Patients were considered spOSA unless their non-supine AHI was negligible (<5) (siOSA). The clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of both groups were compared.
Results:
Two hundred and sixteen subjects (77.4%) met the criteria for POSA, with 158 (73.1%) of them classified as spOSA, and 58 (26.9%) as siOSA. The siOSA patients had lower arousal indices, but poorer quality of sleep, and were more depressed and anxious compared with the spOSA subjects.
Conclusions:
Those with siOSA and spOSA show different clinical features.
Significance:
These findings suggest that a more detailed sub-classification of POSA is needed.
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