The relationship of the uvula with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review

Abstract

Currently, the relationship between uvula size and sleep-disordered breathing (snoring and obstructive sleep apnea) lacks data for objective interpretation. This study conducted a systematic review of the international literature for research describing the measurable characteristics of the uvula (i.e., size, length, width) and any association with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). PubMED, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were each systematically searched from inception through November 15, 2016. We screened 1037 titles and abstracts. We conducted a full review of 54 downloaded articles. Sixteen articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria. The 16 studies included a total of 2604 patients. The selected articles included data and information for (1) normative data for uvular size in the control groups, (2) snoring and uvula size, (3) OSA and uvula size, and (4) overall uvula function. Our review noted variability in findings; however, in general, a uvular length > 15 mm was considered elongated and a uvular width > 10 mm was considered to be wide. The studies included in this systematic review reveal a relationship between uvula size, snoring, and OSA. Further, larger uvulas appear associated with more severe snoring and OSA. The direct correlation between uvula size and its relationship specifically to snoring and OSA remain as topics for future prospective research.

Compared to Individuals with Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Individuals with Severe OSA Had Higher BMI and Respiratory-Disturbance Scores

“…Furthermore, the results showed that the snore index (total number of snores/total sleep time) increased with OSA severity. While the quality of the present data does not provide any evidence, an association between larger uvula size, higher snoring, and higher OSA is conceivable [ 89 ].…”

Introduce structural equation modelling to machine learning problems for building an explainable and persuasive model

“…Before collecting data, we review the factors relating to OSA. According to the recently published literature [13][14][15][16][17], OSA relates closely with the following aspects: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), sleep quality including daytime tiredness, snore, health status, and underlying diseases. Thus, we collected questionnaire data considering these factors -the data used for analysis comes from the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) database [18,19].…”

Prevalence and clinical impact of snoring in older community‐dwelling adults

“…Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of both OSA and snoring is higher in the older adult population, although they failed to delineate the detailed prevalence among independent adults aged ≥65 years . In addition, the clinical impact of snoring remains unknown because of the lack of relevant evidence for this age range in the literature …”

“…Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of both OSA and snoring is higher in the older adult population, although they failed to delineate the detailed prevalence among independent adults aged ≥65 years. [9][10][11] In addition, the clinical impact of snoring remains unknown because of the lack of relevant evidence for this age range in the literature. [9][10][11] The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prevalence of snoring in an independent older adult population and describe its clinical impact.…”