0795 Association of Nasal and Sleep Apnea Clinical Measures

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Abstract Introduction The association between nasal measures and polygsomnography measures is modest. However, nasal treatment can improve sleep quality in people without sleep apnea. The association of nasal and sleep apnea clinical measures in patients with sleep apnea is unknown. Our primary hypothesis is that the subjective nasal obstruction is associated with reduced sleep apnea-specific quality of life at baseline and with sleep apnea treatment after 6 months. Methods This prospective cohort study included patients with newly diagnosed sleep apnea who were prescribed CPAP. Data were collected before CPAP and 6 months later, including the validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE, range 0-100, higher worse) scale and validated Symptoms of Nocturnal Obstruction & Related Events (SNORE-25, range 0-5, higher worse) quality of life instrument. Additional nasal measures, sleep apnea clinical measures, and covariates were collected. We tested the association between nasal and sleep apnea clinical measures with multivariate linear regression, adjusting for important confounding variables. Results The cohort (N=242) was middle-aged (47+/-12 years), included both sexes (65% men), and had severe sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index 33+/-24 events/hour). The baseline NOSE was strongly associated with SNORE-25, independent of demographics, comorbidity, and sleep apnea severity: beta 18, 95% CI 15-22, p<0.001, meaning for every unit of SNORE-25 increase there was an adjusted increase in NOSE score of 18. The 6-month changes in NOSE and SNORE-25 were strongly associated, independent of demographics, comorbidity, sleep apnea severity, and CPAP use: beta 17, 95%CI 13-22, p<0.001. Secondary nasal and sleep apnea clinical measures were associated, but nasal and polysomnography measures were not associated. Conclusion Nasal clinical measures are associated with sleep apnea clinical measures at baseline and with sleep apnea treatment, while the nasal measures are not associated with polysomnography measure. These data support the importance of the nasal airway on sleep apnea clinical outcomes. Support (If Any) R01 HL084139 (Weaver), T32 DC000018 (Stone), Seattle Veterans Affairs Medical Center