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. 2022 Oct 4;12(10):1543.
doi: 10.3390/life12101543.

The Predictive Role of the Upper-Airway Adipose Tissue in the Pathogenesis of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Viktória Molnár  1 , Zoltán Lakner  2 , András Molnár  1 , Dávid László Tárnoki  3 , Ádám Domonkos Tárnoki  3 , László Kunos  4 , Zsófia Jokkel  3 , László Tamás  1   5
Affiliations

The Predictive Role of the Upper-Airway Adipose Tissue in the Pathogenesis of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Viktória Molnár et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the thickness of the adipose tissue (AT) around the upper airways with anthropometric parameters in the prediction and pathogenesis of OSA and obstruction of the upper airways using artificial intelligence. One hundred patients were enrolled in this prospective investigation, who were divided into control (non-OSA) and mild, moderately severe, and severe OSA according to polysomnography. All participants underwent drug-induced sleep endoscopy, anthropometric measurements, and neck MRI. The statistical analyses were based on artificial intelligence. The midsagittal SAT, the parapharyngeal fat, and the midsagittal tongue fat were significantly correlated with BMI; however, no correlation with AHI was observed. Upper-airway obstruction was correctly categorised in 80% in the case of the soft palate, including parapharyngeal AT, sex, and neck circumference parameters. Oropharyngeal obstruction was correctly predicted in 77% using BMI, parapharyngeal AT, and abdominal circumferences, while tongue-based obstruction was correctly predicted in 79% using BMI. OSA could be predicted with 99% precision using anthropometric parameters and AT values from the MRI. Age, neck circumference, midsagittal and parapharyngeal tongue fat values, and BMI were the most vital parameters in the prediction. Basic anthropometric parameters and AT values based on MRI are helpful in predicting OSA and obstruction location using artificial intelligence.

Keywords: MRI; artificial intelligence; drug-induced sleep endoscopy; obesity; obstructive sleep apnoea; parapharyngeal adipose tissue.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study participants’ flow chart. AHI = apnoea-hypopnoea index, DISE = drug-induced sleep endoscopy, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, OSA = obstructive sleep apnoea, ORL = otorhinolaryngological.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) T1-weighed measurements in the axial plane showing parapharyngeal adipose tissue on the left and right sides; (B,C) midsagittal axis of the T1-weighted MRI scans showing the midsagittal subcutaneous adipose tissue of the neck and adipose tissue of the tongue (taken from our data).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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