Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Effects of upper airway obstruction findings on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are well known. The nose forms a big part of upper airway resistance and its effects on OSAS is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effects of obstructive nasal examination findings on OSAS. METHODS: One hundred and nine patients presented to our hospital with complaints of sleep disorders, had night polysomnography performed and diagnosed with OSAS. Detailed ENT examination of each patient was performed and obstructive inferior turbinate hypertrophy, obstructive nasal septal deviation and internal nasal valve stenosis was identified. In addition to this Mallampati score, tonsillar size (Brodsky scale), body mass index (BMI), neck and waist measurements were recorded. OSA patients with and without nasal obstruction were compared. RESULTS: Patients with nasal obstruction (n: 61) and those without nasal obstruction (n = 48) were compared. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the lowest O2 saturation, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and Epwort sleepiness scales showed no significant difference between these two groups. (Mann Whitney U test, P> 0.05). Furthermore there was no correlation between age, Mallampati scores and AHI (p> 0.05) but Brodski scale, BMI, waist and neck measurements were found to be correlated with AHI (p <0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The presence of nasal obstruction as assessed by objective polysomnographic findings showed no significant effect on patients with OSAS.

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