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].