Measurements of craniofacial morphology using photogrammetry in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Abstract

To assess the craniofacial morphology in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using nonradiation and readily accessible photogrammetry technique. Included children aged 3-18 years with SDB-related symptoms from April 2019 to February 2020 in a tertiary center. All participants underwent craniofacial photogrammetry and overnight polysomnography (PSG). Participants were stratified into 2 groups (obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] group: apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]≥1 and non-OSA group: AHI <1). Craniofacial photogrammetry was performed to derive variables of craniofacial features in standardized frontal and profile views. The 2 groups were propensity score matched based on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) percentiles. Associations between craniofacial feature variables and OSA (AHI ≥1) likelihood were examined using logistic regression test. intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability. In total, 58 children were enrolled for the analysis after matching. All 3 variables representing the mandibular plane angle in the profile view were increased in the OSA group (mego-tn: 34.85±5.99 vs 31.65±5.96°, odds ratio [OR]: 1.10, 95% CI:1.02 to 1.18, P=.01; tn-gogn: 28.65±6.38 vs 25.91±5.38°, OR: 1.08, 95% CI:1.02 to 1.15, P=.012; and gome-tsup: 26.71±6.13 vs 22.20±5.89°, OR: 1.13, 95% CI:1.04 to 1.23, P=.003). Craniofacial photogrammetry revealed increased mandibular inclination in children with OSA. A steep mandibular plane with craniofacial photogrammetry is considered a potential predictor of pediatric OSA. Further investigation with a large sample size is required to clarify the validity of photogrammetry in evaluating pediatric OSA.