Primary Outcomes
The pre- and post-operative AHI weighted mean ± pooled standard
deviation (M ± SD; 270 patients) decreased from 9.5 ± 12.1 to 4.2 ± 6.9
events/hr (p < 0.04) (Table 1) with a mean difference (MD) of
-5.13 [95% CI -7.13, -3.13], Z-score 5.02 (P<0.00001)
(Figure 2). The I2 statistic (54%) demonstrated
moderate heterogeneity, and the Q statistic (P = 0.05) indicated
heterogeneity of significance. Studies were individually excluded to
identify the source(s) of heterogeneity: for AHI primary outcome, Ulualp
et al was determined to be the main contributor of heterogeneity when
sensitivity was investigated.16 With this study
removed, I2 = 7% and P = 0.37. The mean difference of
the remaining studies was -4.51 [95% CI -5.66, -3.35].
The pre- and post-operative LSAT M ± SD (263 patients) increased from
87.8 ± 5.7 to 90.1 ± 5.1% (p < 0.02) (Table 1) with a MD of
2.71 [95% CI 1.53, 3.89], Z score 4.51 (P<0.0001) (Figure
3). The I2 statistic (44%) demonstrated moderate
heterogeneity, and the Q statistic (P = 0.13) indicated no heterogeneity
of significance (Figure 3). Studies were individually excluded to
identify the source(s). For LSAT, the primary contributor to
heterogeneity found during sensitivity investigation was Kanotra et al.
When this study was removed, I2 = 0% and P = 0.66.
The mean difference of the remaining studies was 2.21% [95% CI 1.29,
3.14].