Correlation Analysis between Airway Volume and Risk of Sleep Apnea/Periodontitis

Sleep apnea and periodontitis have high incidences in general population. They share common risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and aging. As cone-beam computed tomography becomes popular in dentistry, airway analysis is very accessible to dentists. However, not many studies have investigated the correlations between airway volume and risk of sleep apnea and periodontitis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between airway volume and the occurrence of sleep apnea and periodontitis.

Overall, 258 patients were enrolled (male: 118, female: 140, age from 13 to 88). axiUm^® was used to collect demographical/physical information and the status of sleep apnea and periodontitis. Invivo™ software was utilized to measure airway dimensions. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD post-hoc test and Pearson analysis were run to determine statistical difference in airway volumes among patients with various demographic and health status, and association of airway dimensions with their sleep apnea and periodontal conditions.

Sleep apnea patients had significantly higher body weight, body mass index, and significantly smaller airway compared to non-apnea patients (P < 0.05). Old age, male, and diabetes were found to be positively correlated with sleep apnea. No association between airway dimension and periodontal status was identified.

Patients with high body mass index are at higher risk of developing constricted airway and sleep apnea. There appears to be no association between restricted airway and occurrence of periodontitis. Cone-beam computed tomography plays a critical role in identifying narrow airway and necessitating proper referral.