Quality-of-Life Assessment before and after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Patients with Syndrome Diagnosis of OSA

Abstract

Objectives:

Quality of life is dependent on socioeconomic, cultural, and health variables. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an important and prevalent disease associated with poor quality of life in many patients. There are few studies in the literature discussing the surgical treatment for OSA with quality of life. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is an instrument for measuring quality of life. It has been applied in various situations with good sensitivity. 1) Describe the quality of life in patients with OSA before and after performing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. 2) Extend the literature on the relationship between uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and quality of life of patients with OSA.

Methods:

A descriptive study, conducted between August and December 2012. We applied the SF-36 questionnaire before and after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in 11 patients (10 males and 1 female) between 27 and 67 years old, diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe OSA (believing in the positive influence of such surgery on quality of life of these patients).

Results:

11 patients showed improvement in the overall assessment of quality of life. There was improvement in functional capacity in 6 (54.4%) patients; limitation on the physical aspects in 4 (36.36%), the pain in 7 (63.63%), the general state of health in 9 (81.81%), vitality in 5 (45.45%), social aspects in 5 (45.45%), emotional aspects in 5 (45.5%), and mental health in 5 (45.5%), and there was no worsening in any domain (P < 0.05 in all domains).

Conclusions:

In addition to polysomnographic analysis and the AHI, the questionnaires about quality of life may be relevant in assessing the therapeutic outcome for OSAS.