Risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing: the role of craniofacial structure

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.

Abstract

In those with sleep-disordered breathing, there were deviations in craniofacial morphology but in only those of normal weight.

Main

Pahkala R, Puustinen R et al. Acta Odontol Scand 2011; 69: 137–143

Intriguingly, Asians with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), have a lower body mass index compared with Caucasians with a similar condition. With this backdrop, the aim of this study was to look for associations between body weight and craniofacial morphology in 125 consecutive adult patients from Finland with a 'suspicion of SDB'. The investigators reported that if the patients were of normal weight, there was a 'high prevalence of profile convexity and mandibular retrognathia'. In contrast, craniofacial abnomalities were rarely the causative factor in those who were overweight. The authors suggest that mandibular advancement devices and orthodontic treatment have roles in the management of normal-weight patients with mild SDB.