• Yi-Ju Lai, Chung-Yi Li, Ching-Hsia Hung, and Cheng-Yu Lin.
• Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, College of Management, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Therapy, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2024 Nov 1; 123 (11): 117511811175-1181.

BackgroundDrug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used for evaluating upper airway anatomy and determining airway obstruction patterns. It is typically performed with the patient in the supine position. Airway collapse severity is influenced by body position and level of consciousness; the resultant dynamic changes may vary across patients. In this study, we evaluated the severity of upper airway collapse through awake endoscopy and DISE and identified factors affecting the pattern of airway collapse severity.MethodsThis study included 66 patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The patients underwent type 1 polysomnography, tongue strength assessment, awake endoscopy in the sitting and supine positions, and DISE. Group-based trajectory modeling was performed to identify patients with different collapse severity patterns in different body positions and at different levels of consciousness.ResultsPatient with similar severity trajectory were assigned to the same group. Two different severity trajectories (group 1 and group 2) were identified at the tongue base level. Tongue depression strength varied significantly between groups 1 and 2 (47.00 vs. 35.00 kPa; P = .047). During awake endoscopy, collapse severity was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. Group 1 had lower rapid eye movement/nonrapid eye movement apnea-hypopnea index ratios and higher tongue depression strength than did group 2.ConclusionIn patients with obstructive sleep apnea, tongue strength may vary depending on body position. Our results should be interpreted with caution because of the limited sample size. Future studies should investigate the effect of oropharyngeal rehabilitation on tongue strength and collapse severity.Copyright © 2024 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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