TY - JOUR
T1 - Upper airway collapsibility in snorers and in patients with obstructive hypopnea and apnea
AU - Gleadhill, I. C.
AU - Schwartz, A. R.
AU - Schubert, N.
AU - Wise, R. A.
AU - Permutt, S.
AU - Smith, P. L.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - During sleep, mild reduction in inspiratory airflow is associated with snoring, whereas obstructive hypopneas and apneas are associated with more marked reductions in airflow. We determined whether the degree of inspiratory airflow reduction was associated with differences in the collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep. Upper airway collapsibility was defined by the critical pressure (Pcrit) derived from the relationship between maximal inspiratory airflow and nasal pressure. In 10 asymptomatic snorers, six patients with obstructive hypopneas, and 10 patients with obstructive apneas, during nonrapid eye movement sleep, Pcrit ranged from -6.5 ± 2.7 cm H2O to -1.6 ± 1.4 and 2.5 ± 1.5 cm H2O, respectively (mean ± SD, p < 0.001). Moreover, higher levels of Pcrit were associated with lower levels of maximal inspiratory airflow during tidal breathing during sleep (p < 0.005). We conclude that differences in upper airway collapsibility distinguish among groups of normal subjects who snore and patients with periodic hypopneas and apneas. Moreover, the findings suggest that small differences in collapsibility (Pcrit) along a continuum are associated with reduced airflow and altered changes in pattern of breathing.
AB - During sleep, mild reduction in inspiratory airflow is associated with snoring, whereas obstructive hypopneas and apneas are associated with more marked reductions in airflow. We determined whether the degree of inspiratory airflow reduction was associated with differences in the collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep. Upper airway collapsibility was defined by the critical pressure (Pcrit) derived from the relationship between maximal inspiratory airflow and nasal pressure. In 10 asymptomatic snorers, six patients with obstructive hypopneas, and 10 patients with obstructive apneas, during nonrapid eye movement sleep, Pcrit ranged from -6.5 ± 2.7 cm H2O to -1.6 ± 1.4 and 2.5 ± 1.5 cm H2O, respectively (mean ± SD, p < 0.001). Moreover, higher levels of Pcrit were associated with lower levels of maximal inspiratory airflow during tidal breathing during sleep (p < 0.005). We conclude that differences in upper airway collapsibility distinguish among groups of normal subjects who snore and patients with periodic hypopneas and apneas. Moreover, the findings suggest that small differences in collapsibility (Pcrit) along a continuum are associated with reduced airflow and altered changes in pattern of breathing.
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U2 - 10.1164/ajrccm/143.6.1300
DO - 10.1164/ajrccm/143.6.1300
M3 - Article
C2 - 2048817
AN - SCOPUS:0025761709
VL - 143
SP - 1300
EP - 1303
JO - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
JF - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
SN - 1073-449X
IS - 6
ER -