Airflow shape is associated with the pharyngeal structure causing obstructive sleep apnea

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from the collapse of different pharyngeal structures (soft palate, tongue, lateral walls, epiglottis). The structure involved in collapse has been shown to impact non-CPAP OSA treatment. Different inspiratory airflow shapes are also observed among OSA patients. We hypothesized that inspiratory flow shape reflects the underlying pharyngeal structure involved in airway collapse.

Methods

Subjects with OSA were studied with a pediatric endoscope and simultaneous nasal flow and pharyngeal pressure recordings during natural sleep. The mechanism causing collapse was classified as tongue-related, isolated palatal, lateral walls, or epiglottic. Flow shape was classified according to the degree of negative effort dependence (NED), defined as the percent reduction in inspiratory flow from peak to plateau.

Results

Thirty-one subjects with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index=54±27 events/hr; mean±S.D.) aged 50±9 years were studied. NED was associated with the structure causing collapse (PConclusions

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