Table 1. Descriptive characteristics by level of obstruction.
| Overall | Level of obstruction |
p ValueA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-level obstruction | Simple velopharynx obstruction | |||
| N (%) | 36 (100%) | 15 (42%) | 21 (58%) | |
| Age (years) | 39 (31, 46) | 43 (38, 47) | 39 (30, 44) | 0.141 |
| Male gender, n (%) | 34 (94) | 13 (87) | 21 (100) | 0.167 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.3 (24.3, 29.0) | 28.3 (25.7, 29.8) | 25.4 (24.3, 28.2) | 0.030 |
| Neck circumference (cm) | 39.5 (37.5, 41.0) | 40.0 (37.5, 42.0) | 39.0 (37.3, 40.0) | 0.324 |
| Tonsil size (grade) | 2 (2, 3) | 2 (2, 3) | 2 (2, 3) | 0.727 |
| MMP (grade) | 2 (2, 3) | 3(2, 3) | 2 (2, 3) | 0.214 |
| FAS (stage) | 2 (2, 2) | 2 (2, 2) | 2 (2, 2) | 0.547 |
| Snoring severity (VAS) | 8 (6, 9) | 8 (6, 9) | 8 (6, 9) | 0.776 |
| ESS (score) | 13 (9, 15) | 12 (11, 16) | 13 (8, 15) | 0.446 |
| AHI (events/hour) | 55.9 (27.8, 73.1) | 59.88 (53.1, 81.9) | 41.3 (25.5, 60.7) | 0.021 |
| Mean SaO2 (%) | 94.0 (91.0, 95.0) | 91.0 (85.0, 94.0) | 95.0 (93.0, 96.0) | <0.001 |
| Minimal SaO2 (%) | 76.5 (69.3, 84.8) | 69.0 (65.0, 77.0) | 80.0 (75.0, 87.0) | 0.004 |
Note: Numbers are median and interquartile ranges, unless otherwise noted as n (%).
AP Values are based on Fisher exact tests for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney tests for continuous or skewed variables.
AHI, apnea-hypopnoea index; A-stage, anatomic stage; BMI, body mass index; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; FAS, Friedman’s anatomic stage; MMP, modified Mallampati position; SaO2, arterial oxygen saturation; VAS, visual analogue scale.