Could snoring sound analysis parameters be used to predict the severity
of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome before polysomnography?
Abstract
Aim of the study: Snoring is one of the main symptoms of
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. In this study, it was
aimed to investigate whether snoring sound parameters can be used in
pre- polysomnography (PSG) screening in patients with OSAS.
Methods: All patients underwent full-night PSG test. Sound
parameters were measured using the PRAAT acoustic analysis program. The
relationship between these parameters and degree of OSAS, and also the
relationship between snoring sound and types of OSAS were analyzed
prospectively. Results: Seventy seven patients diagnosed OSAS
were included the study. It was found that the shimmer scores decreased
significantly from mild OSAS to severe OSAS (p=0.045). Although mean
pitch scores increased from mild to severe OSAS, it was not found to be
statistically significant (p=0.16). Mean pitch score was found to be
significantly higher in the severe group (p=0.022). Shimmer scores were
found significantly higher in REM-predominant OSAS patients than without
REM-predominant OSAS patients (p=0.006). Shimmer scores were
significantly higher in obese patients than in non-obese patients and in
patients over 40 years of age years than under 40 years of age (p=0.032;
p<0.01; respectively). The ROC analysis was performed to
determine the cutoff value of mean Pitch (≥74.65) in predicting severe
OSAS classification (AUC=0.69; p=0.017). Conclusion: Our
results are important to show that, analysis of snoring sound with a
noninvasive method of acoustic voice analysis, can be applied quickly
and easily in the pre-PSG screening in especially clinically important
advanced-stage OSAS cases that should be diagnosed urgently.