Anatomic Changes of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome at Different Stages

In this study, it was aimed to determine the changes in the anatomic structures of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) classified according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).

Individuals were divided into groups as group 1 (AHI=0, n=20), group 2 (AHI ˂5, n=20), group 3 (AHI=5-15, n=20), group 4 (AHI=16-30, n=20), group 5 (AHI ˃30, n=20). The individuals left lateral cervical vertebra radiographs were taken. Measurements were made from the morphometric points determined using the "Enlil PACS" program on the radiologic images (mm). These measurements are categorized into soft tissue, hyoid bone, airway size, and craniofacial variables.

As AHI increased, age, body mass index, neck circumference, and Epworth Sleep Scale scores increased in all groups. Soft palate and tongue length, hyoid-mandible, hyoid-posterior pharyngeal wall, and hyoid-spina nasalis posterior distances lengthened. An increase was found between spina nasalis anterior, spina nasalis posterior, distance between condylion and gnathion, and total facial length and lower face length in all groups.

It is thought that the results obtained due to the differentiation in anatomic structures may help the methods that will facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of OSAS.