Classification of facial phenotypes in Asian patients with obstructive sleep apnea. (2nd December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zishanbai; Wang, Huijun; Sun, Dance; Fei, Nanxi; Li, Yanru; Han, Demin
• Is Part Of: Acta oto-laryngologica. Volume 142:Number 9/12(2022)
• Page Start: 712
• Page End: 720
• Publication Date: 2022-12-02
• Subjects: Obstructive sleep apnea -- facial -- facial phenotype -- morphology -- cluster analysis; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Ear -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Throat -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Electronic Resources; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; 617.8
• DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2022.2108552
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6489

Abstract

Abstract: Backgroud: The facial phenotypes of Asian obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients remain unclear. Objectives: (1) To describe the facial features of OSA patients. (2) To develop a model based on facial contour indicators to predict OSA. ( 3) To classify the facial phenotypes of Asian OSA patients. Materials and methods: 110 patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 10/h) and 50 controls (AHI< 10/h) were selected to measure facial contour indicators. Indicators were compared between OSA patients and the control group. We used multivariable linear regression analysis to predict OSA severity and K-means cluster analysis to classify OSA patients into different phenotypes. Results: We built a model to predict OSA which explained 49.1% of its variance and classified OSA patients into four categories. Cluster 1 (Skeletal type) had the narrowest facial width indicators with narrowing of the retroglossal airway. Cluster 2 (Obese type) had the widest face, and narrowest hard palate, retropalatal, and hypopharyngeal airways. Cluster 3 (Nose type) had the narrowest nasal cavity. Cluster 4 (Long type) had the longest airway length. Conclusions and significance: Patients with OSA were classified into four categories, each of which identified different anatomic risk factors that can be used to select the treatment.