Relationship between surface facial dimensions and upper airway structures in obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that the facial phenotype is closely linked to upper airway anatomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between surface facial dimensions and upper airway structures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Sleep investigation unit.


METHODS
Sixty-nine patients (apnea-hypopnea index > or = 10/h) underwent MRI as part of a study of upper airway anatomy in oral appliance therapy.


METHODS
Measurements of a range of surface facial dimensions and upper airway soft tissue volumes were performed on the MR images using image-analysis software. Pearson correlation analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Significant correlations were identified between a number of surface facial dimensions and neck circumference. Significant positive correlations were demonstrated between surface facial dimensions (including facial widths, facial heights, nose width, interocular and intercanthal widths) and upper airway structures. The strongest associations were between the tongue volume and the midface width (r = 0.70, P < 0.001), and lower-face width (r = 0.60, P <0.001). Surface facial dimensions in combination were also strong determinants for tongue volume (r2 = 0.69). Correlations between surface soft tissue thickness and upper airway soft tissue volumes occurred at the level of the midface but not at the level of the lower face.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that there is a relationship between surface facial dimensions and upper airway structures in subjects with OSA. These findings support the potential role of surface facial measurements in anatomic phenotyping for OSA.
Lee
Richard W W
RW
Centre for Sleep Health and Research, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital St Leonards, NSW Australia.
Sutherland
Kate
K
Chan
Andrew S L
AS
Zeng
Biao
B
Grunstein
Ronald R
RR
Darendeliler
M Ali
MA
Schwab
Richard J
RJ
Cistulli
Peter A
PA
D000328:Adult; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002508:Cephalometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*