title: The role of oxygen saturation measurement and body mass index in distinguishing between non-apnoeic snorers and patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the role of oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurement in identifying apnoeic snorers from non-apnoeic snorers and in the assessment of the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. Ninety-two patients with clinically suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) were assessed, using overnight polysomnography. The patients were classified as follows: 14 patients were non-apnoeic snorers, 27 patients had mild OSAS, 31 patients had moderate OSAS and 20 patients had severe OSAS. Minimum SaO2 level, mean SaO2, time below 85% of SaO2, the ratio between the time SaO2 and total sleep time and body mass index (BMI) were assessed retrospectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the non-apnoeic group and OSAS patients in Min SaO2 (P = 0.03). Patients who had Min SaO2 above 85% could be evaluated as non-apnoeic snorers; however, SaO2 and BMI were not found to be useful in the assessment of the severity of OSAS.
authors.affiliation: University of Mersin, School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mersin, Turkey. muunal@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012913:Snoring / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen