Association of Morphological Varieties of Soft Palate and Airway Measurement Among Riyadh Population: A Retrospective...

Background: It is anticipated that the size and morphology of the airways will shift because of the development of the maxillofacial bone and the soft tissues. The soft palate plays a major role in various functions and may have an impact over the changes in the airway. Aim: To evaluate the association of morphological varieties of soft palate and airway measurement among three different age-groups of Riyadh population. Methodology: Patients who were obese, had mild-to-moderate breathing issue, and young patients seeking orthodontic treatment were advised to get lateral cephalogram. Further, they were divided into three age-groups and the upper airway diameter (UAD), mandibular plane hyoid distance (MN-HY) was measured. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. Result: This study involved 831 patients, among which, 31-50-year-olds had greater mean UAD (12.54 ± 3.74), whereas 50+ had higher MN-HY (13.23 ± 6.22). S-shaped soft palate had greater mean UAD (19.63 ± 8.14), but straight line-shaped had higher MN-HY (13.94 ± 5.8). People between the ages of 10 and 30 (100%) had an undefined soft palate shape, while those between 31 and 50 years (38.2%) had a crooked one and those over 50 (34.1%) had a straight one (p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression demonstrates that the MN-HY ( = 1.607; p < 0.001) is substantially associated with older age-groups (p < 0.001). The majority of straight-line soft palates were associated with the majority of normal range UAD and MN-HY (p < 0.01) values. Conclusion: A significant association found between the changes in soft palate and the size of the airway. Middle aged patients showed higher UAD, while the older age group showed higher MN-HY.