title: Evaluation of potential predictors of outcome of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for snoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a common treatment for snoring, but up to 50% of patients obtain little or no sustained benefit. We investigated whether pre-operative measurements from lateral cephalometry, acoustic rhinometry, analysis of snoring sounds, and body mass index (BMI) could predict which snorers benefited from LAUP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five snoring patients were assessed pre- and 6 months post-LAUP. Snoring severity was assessed by objective sound level recorded during polysomnography, and a Snoring Symptoms Inventory (SSI) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcome of surgery was assessed by changes in objective sound measurements and in SSI, 6 months after LAUP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relationships between the predictive measurements and outcome were at best only weak and none had sufficient predictive value to be useful in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drinnan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reda
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: G John
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*