title: Evaluation of neuromuscular activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea using chin surface electromyography of polysomnography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is believed that defects in upper airway neuromuscular control play a role in sleep apnea pathogenesis. Currently, there is no simple and non-invasive method for evaluating neuromuscular activity for the purpose of screening in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study was designed to assess the validity of chin surface electromyography of routine polysomnography in evaluating the neuromuscular activity of obstructive sleep apnea subjects and probe the neuromuscular contribution in the pathogenesis of the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The chin surface electromyography of routine polysomnography during normal breathing and obstructive apnea were quantified in 36 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The change of chin surface electromyography from normal breathing to obstructive apnea was expressed as the percent compensated electromyography value, where the percent compensated electromyography value = (normal breath surface electromyography - apnea surface electromyography)/normal breath surface electromyography, and the percent compensated electromyography values among subjects were compared. The relationship between sleep apnea related parameters and the percent compensated electromyography value was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percent compensated electromyography value of the subjects varied from 1% to 90% and had a significant positive correlation with apnea hypopnea index (R(2) = 0.382, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recording and analyzing chin surface electromyography by routine polysomnography is a valid way of screening the neuromuscular activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The neuromuscular contribution is different among subjects with obstructive sleep apnea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Guo-ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jing-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: De-min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiao-yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-huan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002680:Chin / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*