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ASSESSMENT OF SKELETAL AND AIRWAY MEASUREMENTS IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA, SNORERS, AND NON-SNORERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY TREATMENT PLANNING
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This study compared individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), simple snorers, and non-snorers to assess skeletal and airway measurements. The first group comprised twenty simple snorers (mean age: 37.5 years), the second group consisted of twenty individuals with OSA (mean age: 40.0 years), and the third group included twenty individuals without breathing problems (mean age: 29.6 years). Cephalometric films were used to measure four skeletal and fourteen airway parameters. No statistically significant differences were found in skeletal measurements among the three groups. Additionally, neither the OSA nor simple snoring groups exhibited significant differences in airway measurements. However, the soft palate angle was significantly different between the OSA and control groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, soft palate length, thickness, and height were significantly different between the OSA and control groups (P < 0.001). The area of the soft palate was also significantly lower in the OSA group compared to controls. Moreover, the control group had greater distances between the anterior and posterior pharyngeal spaces compared to both study groups. A significant difference (P = 0.1) was observed in the positioning of the hyoid bone among the OSA groups. These findings suggest that individuals with OSA exhibit smaller airway dimensions due to increased soft palate volume. Therefore, treatment strategies should be tailored accordingly to address these anatomical differencesddd