Facial profile shape, malocclusion and palatal morphology in Malay obstructive sleep apnea patients.

OBJECTIVE

To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in facial profile shape, malocclusion class, or palatal morphology in Malay adults with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

Subjects were 120 adult Malays aged 18 to 65 years (mean +/- standard deviation [SD], 33.2 +/- 13.31) divided into two groups of 60. Both groups underwent clinical examination and limited channel polysomnography (PSG). The mean OSA and control values were subjected to t-test and the chi square test.

RESULTS

Physical examination showed that 61.7% of the OSA patients were obese, and 41.7% of those obese patients had severe OSA. The mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly greater for the OSA group (33.2 kg/m2 +/- 6.5) than for the control group (22.7 kg/m2 +/- 3.5; P < .001). The mean neck size and systolic blood pressure were greater for the OSA group (43.6 cm +/- 6.02; 129.1 mm Hg +/- 17.55) than for the control group (35.6 cm +/- 3.52; 114.1 mm Hg +/- 13.67; P < .001). Clinical examination showed that the most frequent findings among OSA groups when compared with the control group were convex profiles (71.7%), Class II malocclusion (51.7%), and V palatal shape (53.3%), respectively; the chi square test revealed a significant difference in terms of facial profile and malocclusion class (P < .05), but no significant difference in palatal shape was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The null hypothesis is rejected. A convex facial profile and Class II malocclusion were significantly more common in the OSA group. The V palatal shape was a frequent finding in the OSA group.