Relationship between the volume of pharyngeal structures and critical collapse pressure

• Grant number: 17/06425-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Rodrigues Genta
• Grantee: Giovanna Ferrari D'Angelo
• Host Institution: Instituto do Coração Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (INCOR). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Upper airway anatomy is the main factor involved in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obesity can lead to soft tissues hypertrophy around the pharynx. The propensity for pharyngeal collapse can be determined by measuring the pharyngeal critical closing pressure (Pcrit). Few studies have evaluated the relationship between pharyngeal anatomy and Pcrit. The main hypothesis of the present study is that there is a relationship between the volume of head and neck structures around the pharynx and the Pcrit. Computed tomography imaging of the head and neck and abdomen of 86 patients who participated in a previous protocol will be studied. Available data from these subjects include OSA severity obtained from polysomnography and Pcrit measurements will be compared to the variables obtained from CT scans. The results of the present study may allow the estimation of Pcrit through the analysis of computed tomography of the upper airway. (AU)