Anthropometric and acoustic pharyngometric parameters in sleep-disordered breathing due to structural pharyngeal alterations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Sleep-disordered breathing is a medico-social problem of rising importance worldwide. There are various clinical forms of sleep apnea such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea as well as snoring. Recently, there have been considerable advances in the diagnosis of OSA and snoring. А IМ : This study aimed at applying the method of acoustic pharyngometry for the diagnosis of pharyngeal alterations in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing within a preventive otorhinolaryngological programme in the city of Varna for the first time in Bulgaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2019, screening for sleep-disordered breathing was performed among 100 subjects, 62 males at a mean age of 48.82±11.45 years and 38 females at a mean age of 52.42±16.54 years in the Division of Otorhinolaryngology, St. Anna Hospital of Varna. Clinical inspections, anterior rhinoscopy, pharyngoscopy, indirect laryngoscopy, acoustic rhinometry, as well as acoustic pharyngometry by means of Eccovision ® acoustic pharyngometer were used. The t -test for independent variables and the correlation analysis were applied for statistical data processing. RESULTS : The acoustic pharyngometry identified several pharyngeal alterations. There were statistically significant changes of the anthropometric parameters (body mass index, neck circumference and adjusted neck circumference) and pharyngometric ones (pharyngeal cavity and vocal tract lengths and volumes) between males and females. There were statistically significant positive and negative correlations between the values of these parameters. CONCLUSION : Within the complex otorhinolaryngological examination of the pharyngeal structure and function in the subjects suspected for sleep-disordered breathing, acoustic pharyngometry could play an irreplaceable role as a cost-effective tool.