Novel clinical screening method to identify patients at risk of obstructive sleep apnea

Günay M. M., Saylam G., Fırat İ. H., Akyıldız İ., Bayır Ö., Mutlu M., ...More

Cranio - Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/08869634.2021.1933308
  • Journal Name: Cranio - Journal of Craniomandibular Practice
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, retromolar trigone, posterior plica, anatomic measurements, polysomnography
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Objective: To investigate whether the distance between the two retromolar trigones (RMTs) with the distance between the two posterior plicas (PPs) affects obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to determine a physical examination method that can be used in the selection of patients to be referred to polysomnography (PSG). Methods: The study included 86 OSAS patients and 29 healthy controls. RMTs and PPs were measured using a caliper-like device. The values obtained from these measurements were evaluated in both groups. Results: The PPs were narrower, and the RMTs-PPs, RMTs-PPs/RMTs, and RMTs/PPs values were greater in the OSAS group (p < .05) compared to the control group. The cut-off values were 0.612 for RMTs-PPs/RMTs and 2.589 for RMTs/PPs. The specificity of these values for OSAS was 97%, and sensitivity was 57% and 58%, respectively. Conclusion: The presented method may play a role in preventing unnecessary PSG among patients with suspected OSAS.