The value of posterior rhinomanometry in evaluating patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

BACKGROUND. Nowadays, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are the most common sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) found in the medical practice and they are estimated to affect approximately 4% of men and 2% of women in the middle-aged workforce. There are some ENT pathologies that are involved in snoring, and also in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The nose plays an important part in both breathing and SRBD. The aim of this study was to determine the role of posterior rhinomanometry in the diagnoses of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS. We present a retrospective observational study that took place during a three-year period, between 2009 and 2012. In this study were included 110 subjects, who have undergone polysomnographic investigations, as well as an ENT clinical examination focused on endoscopy and posterior rhinomanometry evaluation.

RESULTS. The mean age was 46.09 ± 10.91 years, the mean height was 177.58 ± 10.02 cm and the mean weight was 98.45 ± 17.74 kg. Analysing these results, we found a significant correlation between them and the severity of the sleep pathology. The posterior rhinomanometry results were correlated with nasal allergic rhinitis (p = 0.06) and not correlated with other nasal pathology, such as nasal septum deviation. The changes in the size and shape of the tongue base or epiglottis proved to have an important impact upon rhinomanometric values, with a statistically significant value (p = 0.03, respectively p = 0.08).

CONCLUSION. All diagnostic methods must be interpreted in connection with each other.