Upper Airway in the Adult Population of São Paulo,Brazil

Abstract

Objective: 1) Study the prevalence of otolaryngologic symptoms and findings of physical examination of upper airway of a representative sample of the adult population of São Paulo, Brazil. 2) Correlate subjective symptoms with physical findings.

Method: A total of 1101 randomly selected volunteers representing the adult population of São Paulo according to gender, age, and socioeconomic class were included in this study. The sampling process was probabilistic, consisting of 3 stages. Otolaryngologic examination included investigation of nasal complaints, physical examination of the upper airway, and facial inspection.

Results: A total of 993 volunteers (53.9% women) underwent otolaryngologic examination, with a mean age of 41.8 ± 0.89 years. The most prevalent symptoms were rhinitis (44.9%), snoring (42.8%), mouth breathing (39.3%), and nasal obstruction (33.3%). On physical examination, the most common findings were web palate (62.9%), septum deviation (56.9%), and inferior turbinate hypertrophy (37.7%). Significant correlations between symptoms and physical examination variables were nasal obstruction with septum deviation, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, high-arched palate, and class II dental occlusion; symptoms of rhinitis with inferior turbinate hypertrophy; and snoring with deviated septum obstruction, Mallampati III and IV, increased neck circumference, and age ≥ 50 years.

Conclusion: The prevalence of otolaryngologic symptoms and changes in physical examination of the upper airway are high in the adult population of São Paulo, Brazil. There is a significant association between snoring and nasal obstruction with objective signs of physical examination of upper airway and inspection of the facial skeleton.