Facial axis angle as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
Many Japanese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are less obese than Caucasian OSA patients despite their similar severity of OSA, suggesting that their etiology of OSA may differ. The purpose of this study was to identify bony factors associated with OSA in the Japanese population.


METHODS
The clinical records of study subjects were retrospectively reviewed, and cephalometric measurements based on Sella-Nasion references and the Ricketts method were statistically compared.


METHODS
Two hundred and six consecutive Japanese men complaining of habitual snoring and daytime sleepiness were enrolled in the study. All subsequently underwent an overnight polysomnographic examination.


RESULTS
Multiple regression analysis showed that the body mass index (p<0.0001) and facial axis angle (p=0.007) were the dominant overall determinants for the apnea hypopnea index. The sella to nasion to subspinale angle (SNA) and sella to nasion to supramentale angle (SNB) were lower in the non-obese, severe group than for non-obese, mild and moderate patients with OSA (p=0.0047 and 0.0016, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The risk factors for OSA in Japanese men may be obesity and the dolico facial pattern seen by the Ricketts method. In addition, a smaller SNA and SNB seem to be associated with the severity of OSA in non-obese patients.
Kubota
Yukiko
Y
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan.
Nakayama
Hideaki
H
Takada
Toshinori
T
Matsuyama
Naho
N
Sakai
Kunihiko
K
Yoshizawa
Hirohisa
H
Nakamata
Masami
M
Satoh
Makoto
M
Akazawa
Kohei
K
Suzuki
Eiichi
E
Gejyo
Fumitake
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002508:Cephalometry; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology