Influence of upper airway narrowing on the effective continuous positive airway pressure level.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration level and upper airway variables in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
Forty-seven patients suffering from OSAS were enrolled in this study. They were asked to answer a questionnaire about nasal stuffiness and mouth breathing, and the degree of tonsillar hypertrophy and shape of the oropharyngeal inlet were evaluated. The minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) of the nasal cavity was measured with acoustic rhinometry, followed by optimal CPAP level titration. We compared optimal CPAP levels with body mass index (BMI), perceived nasal stuffiness, and anatomic upper airway narrowing.


RESULTS
The mean CPAP level was 6.32 +/- 2.17 cm H2O. We found a significant correlation between CPAP levels and BMI (P = .01), apnea-hypopnea index (P = .015), and the degree of tonsillar hypertrophy (P = .011). Furthermore, the CPAP level increased significantly with the MCA on the narrow side of the nasal cavity (P = .038) in patients with a BMI less than 25. Other variables, such as subjective symptoms and anatomic nasal airway occlusion in obese patients (BMI > or = 25), revealed no correlation with the CPAP level.


CONCLUSIONS
Upper airway occlusion including nasal obstruction or tonsillar hypertrophy might increase the effective CPAP level.
Kim
Hyo Yeol
HY
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Min
Jin-Young
JY
Cho
Do-Yeon
DY
Chung
Seung-Kyu
SK
Dhong
Hun-Jong
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000473:pathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009058:Mouth Breathing; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy