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Cited by 521Obstructive Sleep Apnea ResearchAirway Management and Intubation TechniquesNeuroscience of respiration and sleep

Sites and sizes of fat deposits around the pharynx in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and weight matched controls

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Horner, RL, Mohiaddin, RH, Lowell, DG, Shea, SA, Burman, ED, Longmore, DB, Guz, A·1989·European Respiratory Journal
DOI 10.1183/09031936.93.02070613
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Abstract

It has been suggested that deposition of fat in the soft tissues surrounding the upper airway may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in obese subjects. We have used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the site(s) and size(s) of fat deposits around the upper airway in six obese patients with OSA (116-153% of ideal body weight) and five weight-matched controls without OSA (107-152% of ideal body weight). In all subjects, large deposits of fat were present postero-lateral to the oropharyngeal airspace at the level of the soft palate. Significantly more fat was present in these regions in the patients with OSA (p = 0.03). Fat deposits in the soft palate were observed in 4 of the 6 patients with OSA but none of the controls. Fatty streaks were observed in the tongue in 2 of the 5 controls and 3 of the 6 patients with OSA. Fat deposits were observed anterior to the laryngopharyngeal airspace, in submental regions, in all obese subjects. This study shows that more fat is present in those areas surrounding the collapsable segment of the pharynx in patients with OSA, compared to equally obese control subjects without OSA.

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Crossref · 10.1183/09031936.93.02070613

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  • Lateral pharyngeal wall edema and enlarged lateral pharyngeal fat pads have been identified via tissue specimens and imaging in OSA patients.

    “Lateral pharyngeal wall edema and enlarged lateral pharyngeal fat pads have been identified via tissue specimens and imaging in OSA patients.200,205,320–322”

    From International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023) · cites this paper as [322]

    The ‘Sizes of fat deposits and distribution about the palatopharyngeal airspace’ section reports significantly more postero-lateral fat in patients with OSA than in weight-matched controls, based on magnetic resonance imaging. The paper does not identify lateral pharyngeal wall edema or report findings from tissue specimens; its discussion of possible oedema concerns the soft palate. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 14

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  5. [8]8. Mathew OP, Remmers JE. -Respiratory failure of the upper airway. In: Saunders NA, Sullivan CE, eds. Sleep and breathing. New York, Dekker, 1984, pp 163-200.
  6. [9]9. Haponik EF, Smith PL, Bohlman ME, Alien RP, Goldman SM, Bleeker ER. -Computerised tomography in obstructive sleep apnoea-correlation of airway size with physiology during sleep and wakefulness. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983, 127, 221-226.
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  10. [19]19. Dooms GC, Hricak H, Margulis AR, de Geer G. -MR imaging of fat. Radiology, 1986, 158, 51-54.
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  12. [26]26. Sullivan CE, Issa FG, Berthon-Jones M, Saunders NA. - Pathophysiology of sleep apnoea. In: Saunders NA, Sullivan CE, eds. Sleep and breathing. New York, Dekker, 1984, pp 299-363.
  13. [27]27. Anch AM, Remmers JE, Sauerland EK, dcGroot WJ.- Oropharyngeal patency during wakefulness and sleep in the Pickwickian syndrome: electomyographic activity of the tensor veli palantini. Electomyogr Clin Neurophysiol, 1981, 21, 317-330.
  14. [29]29. Cartwright RD.-Effect of sleep position on sleep apnoea severity. Sleep, 1984, 7, 110-114.

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Authors
Horner, R., Mohiaddin, R., Lowell, D., Shea, S., Burman, E., Longmore, D., & Guz, A.
Affiliations
Charing Cross Hospital (GB)
Venue
European Respiratory Journal
Publisher
European Respiratory Society (ERS)
Published
1989-07-01
Volume
2
Issue
7
Pages
613-622
ISSN
  • 0903-1936 (ISSN-L)
  • 1399-3003
DOI
10.1183/09031936.93.02070613
OpenAlex
W2135084858
Semantic Scholar
303f6795a96231385c5b927fb1c111376036ea70
Cited by
521
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 24
FWCI
4.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Respiratory Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Airway Management and Intubation Techniques
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
Keywords
obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, soft palate, oropharynx, hypopharynx, submental fat, magnetic resonance imaging, airway collapsibility
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Middle Aged, Nasopharynx, Obesity, Oropharynx, Palate, Soft, Pharynx, Sleep Apnea Syndromes

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