Correlation of cephalometric variables with obstructive sleep apnea severity among children: a hierarchical regression analysis

ABSTRACT

Objective

To evaluate the correlation between cephalometric parameters and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) after controlling gender, body mass index (BMI), and adenoid size in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

Sixty-four children with OSA (40 males, 24 females, 8.72 ± 0.899 years) were chosen by simple random sampling for a cross-sectional study from January 2018 to March 2022. They were diagnosed with OSA, assessed by Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 questionnaire and home polysomnography and underwent lateral cephalograms.

Results

Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that cephalometric parameters (except adenoid size) were associated with OSA severity, explaining 18.1% of the AHI variance. Among cephalometric measurements, AHI was positively associated with H-RGn and N-Go-Me angle (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with NP (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The sagittal diameter of the oropharynx, lower gonial angle, and hyoid position are significant AHI predictors in children with OSA, independent of demographic characteristics and adenoid size.

KEYWORDS:

• Sleep apnea syndrome
• cephalometric
• apnea-hypopnea index
• children
• hierarchical regression analysis

Acknowledgments

We thank the patients for their cooperation and contribution to the study. We also thank Shandong University Dental Hospital for providing equipment.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program in Shandong Province [2018GSF118240], Undergraduate Teaching Reform and Research Project of Cheeloo College of Shandong University [qlyxjy-201936], and 3315 Series Project of Ningbo City (2020B-30-G);