This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of
cephalometric, anthropometries and oral cavity measurements in cases
with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The study comprised
10 volunteers as control group and 20 patients with OSAS diagnosed
depending on an Epworth Sleepiness Scale Score (ESSS) >10 and a
respiratory disturbance index (RDI) >5. Body mass index (BMI) and
neck circumference (NC) measured at the level of the cricothyroid
membrane were identified. Standard radiographic cephalometry was
done and 6 cephalometric variables were defined. Intraoral
measurements included the maxillary (MxID) and mandibular
intermolar distance (MnID), hard palate height (=DG) and degree of
retrognathia. BMI and NG showed a significant increase in patients
with a positive significant correlation with RDI scores. Maxillary and
mandibular intermolar distances showed a significant increase in
patients with OSAS but with a non-significant correlation with RDI
scores. Cephalometric evaluation of DG, the length of the soft palate
and the degree of retrognathia showed a significant increase but the
width of the air column showed a significant decrease in OSAS
patients. RDI scores showed a significant correlation with
cephalometric variables, but using Stepwise regression multivariate
analysis showed that BMI, degree of retrognathia and PNS-P
remained significant on combination. It could be concluded that BMI,
the degree of retrognathia as judged the ENF angle and the length of
the soft palate significantly correlate with the occurrence and severity
of OSAS evaluated in combination could be used as a preliminary
investigations to identify patients with OSAS requiring further
investigations and treatment. |
