IADR Abstract Archives
Anthropometric Neck Length Measurements and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity
Objectives: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a form of Sleep Disordered Breathing that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep due to the collapsing of the upper airway. OSA has been found to be a risk factor for a number of conditions such as daytime sleepiness, decreased concentration/intellectual ability, secondary hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease as well as generally increased morbidity and mortality. Although radiographic neck length metrics have been studied in their relationship to OSA, non-radiographic measurements have not been widely investigated. The objective of this investigation is to understand the relationship between midline neck length and lateral neck length with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Methods: Midline neck length (MNL), lateral neck length (LNL), and neck circumference (NC) measurements were taken on patients seeking consultation at the UNMC Sleep Medicine Clinic. STOP-Bang questionnaire was completed by each subject. The neck length measurements along with demographic factors and medical history information were analyzed for a relationship with subjects’ AHI score. Reliability and reproducibility of neck measurements were tested on 10 dental students. Spearman Correlation Coefficients were used for statistical analysis.
Results: No statistical significant relationship was found between anthropometric neck length measurements (MNL, LNL, LNL-MNL) and AHI score. Additionally, no statistical significant relationship existed for these measurements after adjusting for age, gender, height, BMI, and weight. Statistically significant positive correlations were seen between weight and AHI (.324, p=.024), BMI and AHI (0.323, p=.025), neck circumference and AHI (0.474, p=.0007), and STOP-Bang score and AHI (0.473, p=.0007).
Conclusions: There is not enough evidence at this time that a relationship exists between anthropometric neck length measurements and obstructive sleep apnea severity. Further investigation is required to determine if a neck length measurement correlates with AHI, and if it potentially has practical predictive value for obstructive sleep apnea severity. Neck Circumference, BMI, and STOP-Bang questionnaire should continue to be used in OSA screening.
Methods: Midline neck length (MNL), lateral neck length (LNL), and neck circumference (NC) measurements were taken on patients seeking consultation at the UNMC Sleep Medicine Clinic. STOP-Bang questionnaire was completed by each subject. The neck length measurements along with demographic factors and medical history information were analyzed for a relationship with subjects’ AHI score. Reliability and reproducibility of neck measurements were tested on 10 dental students. Spearman Correlation Coefficients were used for statistical analysis.
Results: No statistical significant relationship was found between anthropometric neck length measurements (MNL, LNL, LNL-MNL) and AHI score. Additionally, no statistical significant relationship existed for these measurements after adjusting for age, gender, height, BMI, and weight. Statistically significant positive correlations were seen between weight and AHI (.324, p=.024), BMI and AHI (0.323, p=.025), neck circumference and AHI (0.474, p=.0007), and STOP-Bang score and AHI (0.473, p=.0007).
Conclusions: There is not enough evidence at this time that a relationship exists between anthropometric neck length measurements and obstructive sleep apnea severity. Further investigation is required to determine if a neck length measurement correlates with AHI, and if it potentially has practical predictive value for obstructive sleep apnea severity. Neck Circumference, BMI, and STOP-Bang questionnaire should continue to be used in OSA screening.