[Preliminary analysis of influencing factors on source of snoring sound].

Objective: To investigate the main factors affecting the source of snoring sound of snoring patients. Method: Seventy-three patients with either simple snoring or obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrom(AHI≤40) underwent routine ENT examination,CT scanning(in awake condition) and drug-induced sleep endoscopy.The sources of snoring sound were observed.The neck circumference,body mass index and CT data were measured. Result: The sources of snoring sound of the 73 cases were divided into three types in general: palatal fluttering based group(Group Ⅰ),lateral wall vibration based group(Group Ⅱ) and palatal fluttering together with vibration of lateral wall based group(Group Ⅲ).The minimum lateral caliber of retropalatal region and retroglossal region,the ratio of minimum anteroposterior/ lateral caliber of the two regions,the thickness of pharyngeal lateral wall had statistical differences.The main influencing factors on the source of snoring sound between Group Ⅱ and Group Ⅰ were the ratio of minimum anteroposterior/lateral caliber of retropalatal region and the mean thickness of pharyngeal lateral wall.The influencing factor between Group Ⅲ and Group Ⅰ was the mean thickness of pharyngeal lateral wall. Conclusion: The ratio of minimum anteroposterior/lateral caliber of retropalatal region and the mean thickness of pharyngeal lateral wall are the main factors affecting the source of snoring sound of snoring patients.
Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
(Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)