Morphological predictors of sleep apnoea severity

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) etiology is multifactorial, involving anatomical factors beyond obesity.
• Morphological configurations play a role in OSA development and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between specific anthropometric and morphological features and the occurrence and severity of OSA.
• To test the hypothesis that physical characteristics influence OSA diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 138 patients with suspected OSA underwent morphological assessments.
• Evaluations included nasal septum, palate (Friedman scale), facial profile, oropharyngeal isthmus, and nasopharynx shape.
• Morphological features were graded using established and novel scales.

Main Results:

• High concordance was observed between polysomnographic parameters and the Friedman scale for palate morphology.
• The shape of the oropharyngeal isthmus showed significant correlation with polysomnographic findings.
• Neck circumference emerged as a significant predictor for the apnoea-hypopnoea index in male OSA patients.

Conclusions:

• The modified Mallampati score and oropharyngeal isthmus evaluation are reliable indicators correlating with polysomnographic data.
• Neck circumference is a key anthropometric predictor for OSA severity, particularly the apnoea-hypopnoea index in males.
• Morphological assessments offer valuable insights into OSA pathophysiology and patient stratification.