title: Comparison between tongue base and soft palate obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), respiratory disturbances are more serious in tongue base-associated obstructions (TBOs) than in soft palate-associated obstructions (SPOs), and the proportion of TBO was predicted by average duration of apnea and hypopnea, and inversely by percentage time of snoring.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the polysomnographic characteristics of two main obstruction sites of OSAS, the soft palate and tongue base, and to identify those variables correlated with tongue base obstructions in patients with OSAS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients (28 men and 3 women) with OSAS were enrolled in this study. To identify airway obstruction levels upper airway pressure manometry was applied during polysomnography. Airway obstructions were categorized as SPO and TBO by observing pressure patterns. All analyses of events were performed in the supine position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average duration of apnea and hypopnea, percentage of apnea among apnea-hypopneas, average O(2) desaturation, and percentage of event-related arousals were significantly higher in TBOs compared with SPOs (all p<0.05). The percentage of TBO among total obstructions (TBO%) was independently associated with average duration of apnea and hypopnea (=0.38, p<0.05) and percentage time of snoring (=-0.44, p<0.01) (adjusted R(2)=30%, p<0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Whun
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seockhoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chul Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Joong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Pil Young
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011312:Pressure; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012913:Snoring; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology*