Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Orofacial Myofunctional Profile in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

To examine the orofacial myofunctional profile and its determinants in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

A sample of 229 patients with OSA who underwent polysomnographic monitoring from June 1 to July 31, 2023, were enrolled in the study. All participants completed questionnaires, scales, and physical measurements to obtain information on general demographics, orofacial myofunction, degree of snoring, neck circumference, waist circumference, BMI, and OSA characteristics.

The proportions of participants with normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 24.5%, 44.1%, and 31.4%, respectively. Mild, moderate, and severe OSA patients accounted for 16.6%, 21.4%, and 62%, respectively. The median total orofacial myofunction score was 90. Larger neck circumference (r=-0.18, P=0.007), higher BMI (r=-0.216, P=0.001), and more severe OSA (r=-0.191, P=0.004) were associated with poorer orofacial myofunction. Age, obesity, diabetes, and RDI were significant predictors of total orofacial myofunction.

All OSA patients have varying degrees of orofacial myofunction insufficiency in this study, which is more pronounced in overweight and obese individuals. The evaluation and intervention of orofacial myofunction should be emphasized in patients with OSA who are older, overweight or obese, who have comorbidities of other metabolic disorders, and who have poor PSG indicators.