Clinical case control study analysis of vestibular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effects of hypoxia degree and sleep duration on vestibular function in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. We made further study the low oxygen levels of OSAHS and hypoxic duration on the impact of vestibular function, and further studied the OSAHS the longest apnea time and Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) abnormal rate and the relationship between the vestibular function of canal paralysis (CP).Methods: A total of 87 OSAHS patients and 47 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. There was no difference in gender, age and BMI values in matched experimental groups. Exclude other diseases of other system. All the participants completed sleepiness questionnaires (i.e., the Epworth sleepiness scale and the STOP-BANG questionnaire) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Additionally, a caloric test, positional test, electrocochleogram, and VEMP test were administered to evaluate the vestibular function of all the participants. A polysomnography (PSG) was also performed. Results:The current investigation generated the following three major findings: (I) there was a significant correlation between body mass index and canal paresis [CP; P=0.014, odds ratio (OR) =1.791, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.125-2.851] and a significant positive correlation between the DHI score and VEMP results (P=0.0061, OR =3.667, 95% CI: 1.449-9.276); (II) the CP abnormality rate of the OSAHS group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05); (III) there was a significant correlation between the longest apnea duration and the DHI score (r=-0.191, P<0.05). Conclusions:The abnormality rate of the vestibular function of OSAHS patients is higher than that of healthy people. OSAHS intermittent hypoxia can affect vestibular function in the inner ear, and the longer the duration of prolonged hypoxia, the more serious the vestibular function damage.

Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Chronic Dizziness, and Sleep Duration

“…bstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by frequent arousals and recurrent decreases in blood oxygenation due to obstruction of airflow through the upper airway during sleep (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2014). Repeated hypoxic episodes among patients with OSA have recently been suggested to result in damage to the vestibular system, altered cerebellar function, and decreased autonomic nervous system function, leading to dizziness (Kayabasi et al, 2015; J. R. Li et al, 2022). The term "dizziness" is defined as an unpleasant disturbance of spatial orientation or the abnormal perception of movement, which is more specifically referred to as "vertigo" (Strupp & Brandt, 2008).…”

“…Repeated hypoxic episodes among patients with OSA have recently been suggested to result in damage to the vestibular system, altered cerebellar function, and decreased autonomic nervous system function, leading to dizziness (Kayabasi et al, 2015; J. R. Kim et al, 2022; Li et al, 2022). The term “dizziness” is defined as an unpleasant disturbance of spatial orientation or the abnormal perception of movement, which is more specifically referred to as “vertigo” (Strupp & Brandt, 2008).…”