Relations Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Specific Cephalometric Measurements, Body Mass Index, and Apnea-Hypopnea Index

PurposeTo evaluate the relation of specific cephalometric landmarks, body mass index, and the apnea-hypopnea index in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and treated with functional upper airway surgery.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort analysis of 89 consecutive patients over a 3-year period diagnosed with overnight-attended polysomnogram-confirmed OSAS who underwent functional upper airway surgery. Five predetermined specific cephalometric parameters were analyzed: posterior airway space, soft palate length, hyoid to mandibular plane angle, sella-nasion to mandibular plane angle, and gonion to gnathion length. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to establish a relation between independent and dependent variables.ResultsThere were no statistically significant associations between the 5 specific cephalometric craniofacial structures in combination with other potential confounders, body mass index and apnea-hypopnea index, and the presence of OSAS.ConclusionsNo one skeletal or soft tissue parameter can be directly linked to OSAS.