Correlation between severity of sleep apnea and upper airway morphology: Cephalometry and MD-CT study during awake and sleep states

Abstract

Conclusion: The data show that the evaluation of obstruction site in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) should be performed in the sleep state rather than in wakefulness. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify correlation between severity of OSA as measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and upper airway morphology examined by cephalometry and dynamic multidetector computed tomography (MD-CT) in awake and sleep states. Methods: Polysomnography and cephalometry were performed in 94 patients with snoring or OSA. Among them, 64 patients underwent MD-CT study. Thirteen cephalometric variables were measured. We analyzed the correlations between AHI and MD-CT measurements – minimal cross-sectional area (mCSA) and collapsibility index (CI) in high retropalate (HRP), low retropalate (LRP), high retroglossal (HRG), and low retroglossal (LRG) areas. Results: Statistically significant correlations between the AHI and inferior displacement of the hyoid bone and pharyngeal length were identified in the cephalometric study. In wakefulness, AHI had a negative correlation with mCSA in the LRP area and a significant correlation with CI in LRP and HRG in MD-CT measurements. However, in the sleep state, the AHI had a negative correlation with mCSA in LRP, HRG, and LRG areas and a meaningful correlation with CI for the whole upper airway (HRP, LRP, HRG, and LRG).