Upper airway morphology in adults with positional obstructive sleep apnea

To compare the anatomical balance and shape of the upper airway in the supine position between adults with positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) and adults with non-positional OSA (NPOSA).

Adults diagnosed with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 10 events/h) were assessed for eligibility. POSA was defined as the supine AHI more than twice the AHI in non-supine positions; otherwise, patients were classified as NPOSA. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging was performed for every participant while awake in the supine position. The anatomical balance was calculated as the ratio of the tongue size to the maxillomandibular enclosure size. The upper airway shape was calculated as the ratio of the anteroposterior dimension to the lateral dimension at the location of the minimal cross-sectional area of the upper airway (CSAmin-shape).

Of 47 participants (28 males, median age [interquartile range] 56 [46 to 63] years, median AHI 27.8 [15.0 to 33.8]), 34 participants were classified as having POSA (72%). The POSA group tended to have a higher proportion of males and a lower AHI than the NPOSA group (P = 0.07 and 0.07, respectively). After controlling for both sex and AHI, the anatomical balance and CSAmin-shape were not significantly different between both groups (P = 0.18 and 0.73, respectively).

Adults with POSA and adults with NPOSA have similar anatomical balance and shape of their upper airway in the supine position.

This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR Trial ACTRN12611000409976).