Nasal Obstruction in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: 1) Evaluate the prevalence of the symptom of nasal obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. 2) Identify which polysomnographic variables were most altered by nasal obstruction.

Method: A transversal study was performed through the analysis of overnight polysomnography in association with the Epworth’s Sleepiness Scale, nasal symptoms and clinical assessment of sleep. In this study, 80 patients were evaluated between March and July of 2010, both male and female, with snoring and apnea complaints.

Results: No statistically significant differences between the groups regarding age, gender, body mass index and neck circumference were observed. We found that patients with nasal obstruction were more likely to have a severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea/hypopnea index >30 per hour of sleep) with an increase of 35.71% in comparison with those without nasal obstruction (P = .028), as well as an increase in hypopnea index(P = .026)and latency for REM stage (P = .020). There was no correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness complaints and the symptom of nasal obstruction.

Conclusion: Patients with a nasal obstruction complaint are more likely to present a severe obstructive sleep apnea, hypopnea events and a higher latency of paradoxal sleep stage.