title: Flow-volume curves in obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
abstract: The diagnostic value of flow-volume curves for sleep apnea was studied in 32 patients with obstructive sleep apnea, 40 simple snorers, and 30 healthy nonsnorers. A sawtooth appearance of the flow-volume curve was seen in 22 of the sleep apnea patients (69%), 14 of the simple snorers (35%), and 10 of the nonsnorers (33%). The ratio of midexpiratory flow (FEF 50) to midinspiratory flow (FIF 50) was greater than 1 in 6 of the sleep apnea patients (19%), 3 of the simple snorers (8%), and 2 of the nonsnorers (7%). Thus, only the sawtooth sign was more frequently found in sleep apnea patients than in controls (p less than 0.01). Sleep apnea patients with a sawtooth appearance of the flow-volume curve had a higher apnea index (38.7 +/- 22 vs. 21.5 +/- 12.1; p less than 0.01) and lower nocturnal minimum oxygen saturation (68.1% +/- 16.8 vs. 81.3% +/- 9.97; p less than 0.01) than those without. In symptomatic snorers, sensitivity of the sawtooth sign for sleep apnea was 72% and specificity 61%, for a FEF50/FIF50 ratio above 1 sensitivity was 17% and specificity 83%. In asymptomatic patients, sensitivity of either sign was extremely poor (33%) and specificity was 67% for the sawtooth sign and 85% for FEF50/FIF50 greater than 1. We conclude that abnormal flow-volume curves are of limited value for predicting sleep apnea.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Krankenhaus Lainz, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rauscher
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014797:Vital Capacity