Is there a relationship between the degree of nasal obstruction and snoring?

Abstract

The possible connection between snoring and nasal obstruction was studied in three groups of adult patients. In group 1, comprising 112 unselected patients, 36% snored, and 50% of the snorers suffered from nasal obstruction. The other two groups consisted of selected patients: group 2 (n = 41) and group 3 (n = 40) all of whom suffered from nasal obstruction. In group 2 nasal airway resistance was normal both before and after decongestant treatment, and in group 3 nasal airway resistance was pathologically high even after decongestant treatment. No difference was found between groups 2 and 3 regarding snoring. Sixty-six per cent in group 2 and 78% in group 3 snored. There was a correlation between snoring and the subjective nasal obstruction, but none between snoring and the degree of nasal obstruction expressed as nasal airway resistance.