Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University T. Suthep, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Sleep Breath. 2024 Nov 30;29(1):37. doi: 10.1007/s11325-024-03195-x.
To evaluate the volume and the most constricted cross-sectional area (lumen) sizes of the upper pharyngeal airway among children with/without unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and with/without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
This prospective study was conducted on 66 Thai children aged 5 to 12 years, encompassing demographic information, polysomnographic data, and sex distribution: 34 with non-syndromic UCLP (16 with OSA; 18 without OSA) and 32 non-cleft children (16 with OSA; 16 without OSA). Subjects were divided into two age groups: preadolescent group (ages 10-12) and younger group (ages 5-9). Cone-beam computed tomography images were acquired with subjects in a supine position. Subsequent measurements were conducted using the Dolphin imaging program (version 11.7 premium) to investigate and compare the volumes and lumens of the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal airways.
In the younger group, the UCLP with OSA group exhibited significantly smaller volumes and lumens in the oropharyngeal airway compared to the non-cleft group without OSA (volume: p = 0.044; lumen: p = 0.031, 95% CI). All upper pharyngeal airway parts had comparable volumes and lumens between age groups. However, preadolescence reported no significant differences.
Statistically significant differences were observed only in the oropharyngeal airway measurements in the younger sample compared to the adolescent sample. This underscores the importance of considering oropharyngeal airway structure in diagnosing and preventing OSA in children. However, it is essential to note that while airway size is a fundamental factor, it may not be the sole determinant of OSA occurrence. Other factors likely contribute to the condition as well.
评估单侧唇腭裂（UCLP）伴或不伴阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）以及不伴腭裂的儿童的上咽气道体积和最狭窄的横截面积（管腔）大小。
本前瞻性研究纳入了 66 名年龄在 5 至 12 岁的泰国儿童，包括人口统计学信息、多导睡眠图数据和性别分布：34 名非综合征性 UCLP 儿童（16 名 OSA；18 名非 OSA）和 32 名非腭裂儿童（16 名 OSA；16 名非 OSA）。受试者分为两个年龄组：青少年前组（年龄 10-12 岁）和青少年组（年龄 5-9 岁）。采用仰卧位采集锥束 CT 图像。使用 Dolphin 成像程序（版本 11.7 高级版）进行后续测量，以研究和比较鼻咽、口咽和下咽气道的体积和管腔。
在青少年前组中，与非 OSA 的非腭裂组相比，UCLP 伴 OSA 组的口咽气道体积和管腔明显较小（体积：p=0.044；管腔：p=0.031，95%CI）。所有上咽气道部位在年龄组之间的体积和管腔均具有可比性。然而，青少年前组没有显著差异。
仅在青少年前组的口咽气道测量中观察到与青少年组相比具有统计学显著差异。这强调了在诊断和预防儿童 OSA 时考虑口咽气道结构的重要性。然而，需要注意的是，气道大小虽然是一个基本因素，但它可能不是 OSA 发生的唯一决定因素。其他因素可能也对该情况有影响。
