Objectives: To investigate predictors of surgical outcomes of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
Study design: Case series with planned data collection.
Setting: A university medical center.
Subjects and methods: Thirty-nine patients with OSAHS received Z-palatopharyngoplasty (ZPPP) or Han-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP). All patients were evaluated within 3 months before surgery and at 6 to 12 months after surgery. Statistical analyses were conducted on preoperative parameters that could have affected surgical efficacy and outcome. Success was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) fewer than 20 times per hour and a decrease of more than 50%.
Results: The success rate was 56.4% (22/39 patients). There were statistically significant differences in AHI, lowest oxygen saturation (L-Sao(2)), time with oxygen saturation less than 90% (CT90), percentage of time with oxygen saturation less than 90% (CT90%), microarousal index (MI), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and Friedman OSA stage between the treatment success and failure groups. Higher success rate was predicted by lower severity, as indicated by lower AHI, CT90, CT90%, and MI; higher L-Sao(2); and fewer glucose and lipid metabolism abnormalities, shown by lower ApoE and FBG and higher HDL.
Conclusions: Disease severity, glucose and lipid metabolism, and Friedman OSA stage may be important predictors of surgical outcome of UPPP for OSAHS.