Abstract
IntroductionObstructive sleep apnea causes changes in normal sleep architecture, fragmenting it chronically with intermittent hypoxia, leading to serious health consequences in the long term. It is believed that the occurrence of respiratory events during sleep, such as apnea and hypopnea, can impair the transmission of nerve impulses along the auditory pathway that are highly dependent on the supply of oxygen. However, this association is not well established in the literature. ObjectiveTo compare the evaluation of peripheral auditory pathway and brainstem among individuals with and without obstructive sleep apnea. MethodsThe sample consisted of 38 adult males, mean age of 35.8 (±7.2), divided into four groups matched for age and Body Mass Index. The groups were classified based on polysomnography in: control (n=10), mild obstructive sleep apnea (n=11) moderate obstructive sleep apnea (n=8) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (n=9). All study subjects denied a history of risk for hearing loss and underwent audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response. Statistical analyses were performed using three-factor ANOVA, 2-factor ANOVA, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. The significance level for all tests was 5%. ResultsThere was no difference between the groups for hearing thresholds, tympanometry and evaluated Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response parameters. An association was observed between the presence of obstructive sleep apnea and changes in absolute latency of wave V (p=0.03). There was an association between moderate obstructive sleep apnea and change of the latency of wave V (p=0.01). ConclusionThe presence of obstructive sleep apnea is associated with changes in nerve conduction of acoustic stimuli in the auditory pathway in the brainstem. The increase in obstructive sleep apnea severity does not promote worsening of responses assessed by audiometry, tympanometry and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response.
Highlights
Obstructive sleep apnea causes changes in normal sleep architecture, fragmenting it chronically with intermittent hypoxia, leading to serious health consequences in the long term
The possibility of Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) interfering with the process of generation and transmission of nerve impulses in the auditory system is reported by previous studies, but this association is not well established, and there is doubt as to the actual effect of OSA on hearing.[7,8]
The study included a total of 38 subjects, mean age of 35.3 (±7.1) years and mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28.8 (±3.8) kg/m2
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea causes changes in normal sleep architecture, fragmenting it chronically with intermittent hypoxia, leading to serious health consequences in the long term. It is believed that the occurrence of respiratory events during sleep, such as apnea and hypopnea, can impair the transmission of nerve impulses along the auditory pathway that are highly dependent on the supply of oxygen. This association is not well established in the literature. The possibility of OSA interfering with the process of generation and transmission of nerve impulses in the auditory system is reported by previous studies, but this association is not well established, and there is doubt as to the actual effect of OSA on hearing.[7,8] In addition, individuals with OSA could have serious changes in the mechanisms described above, due to the hyperviscosity of blood plasma[9] and the hypoxic cycles present in OSA.[10].
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