Morphological features of elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a prospective controlled, comparative cohort study

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2011, 36, 139–146 Objectives: To investigate the pharyngeal morphologic features and its pathogenic role on obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in the elderly population. Design: Prospective controlled, comparative cohort study. Setting: Territory referral centre. Participants: We enroled 320 consecutive patients with complaints of snoring who visited Nagoya University Hospital from January 2004 to December 2007. We also collected 26 control subjects aged over 60 years from community-dwelling people. Main outcome measures: We underwent a morphological evaluation, measurement of nasal resistance, assessment of daytime sleepiness and nocturnal polysomnography. Results and conclusions: Two hundred and ninety-two patients were analysed. The constitution ratio of men, the body mass index and Epworth sleepiness scale were decreased with ageing. Tonsil size was reduced progressively with ageing. Retroglossal space was wider, and soft palate was lower in ≥60 year group than in