The correlation between drug-induced sleep endoscopy findings and severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between anthropometric data, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings, and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: From August 2016 to August 2017, a total of 147 surgically naïve adult patients with OSA underwent DISE. Factors that were analyzed included anthropometric data and DISE findings.

Results: When anthropometric data and DISE findings were analyzed with AHI by univariate analysis, the results showed that Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, concentric collapse of the velum, lateral oropharyngeal collapse, and anterior-posterior collapse of the tongue base were considered potentially independent predictors (p = 0.024, p < 0 .001, p < 0 .001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0 .001, respectively, by Spearman correlation). When all important factors were evaluated in a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, BMI, lateral oropharyngeal collapse, and anterior-posterior collapse of the tongue base were identified as significant predictors for the severity of OSA. The final model was listed as below: AHI score = 2.19 BMI + 7.56 Oropharynx/Lateral degree + 8.23 Tongue base/ Anterior-Posterior degree - 40.59.

Conclusion: By analyzing anthropometric data and DISE findings with AHI score, the results indicated that BMI, lateral oropharyngeal collapse, and anterior-posterior collapse of the tongue base were important factors associated with the severity of OSA.