Association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and bone mineral density in adult orthodontic populations

ABSTRACT

Objective

To determine the association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and predicted bone mineral density (BMD) in adults presenting for orthodontic treatment.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 38 adults divided into OSAS and non-OSAS groups. Using pre-treatment CBCT images, radiographic density (RD) of left and right lateral regions of the 1st cervical vertebrae and dens of the 2nd cervical vertebrae were measured as an indicator for BMD.

Results

When controlling for age, sex, and BMI, the mean RD was significantly lower in the OSAS group compared to the non-OSAS group (left CV1: 36.69 ± 84.50 vs. 81.67 ± 93.25 Hounsfield Units [HU], respectively, p = 0.031; right CV1: 30.59 ± 81.18 vs. 74.26 ± 91.81 HU, p = 0.045; dens: 159.25 ± 115.96 vs. 223.94 ± 106.09 HU, p = 0.038).

Conclusion

Adults with OSAS have lower values for predicted BMD than those without OSAS.

KEYWORDS:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• bone density
• cone beam computed tomography
• cervical vertebrae

Acknowledgments

We thank Robert Dunford for his help with the statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

List of abbreviations

Table

Additional information

Funding

This study was not funded.