Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in a sample of patients with oral diseases - A cross-sectional survey

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome or snoring is a life-threatening disorder affecting patients and its associated dental problems. The disease is associated with dynamic collapse of the upper airway involving several underlying factors such as decrease in oxygen saturation, loud disruptive snoring, abrupt awakening, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is essential to take proper steps in time for the diagnosis of this common-seeming disease. Furthermore, dentists themselves should be aware of this disorder, only then they can provide necessary treatment to the needy patients. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of OSA and the awareness of OSA-related oral diseases by a self-administered questionnaire among its patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 individuals were screened through a cross-sectional single-center analytical study to assess the presence of comorbidities and other dental diseases in each individual attending a dental outpatient department over the age of 20 years with complaints of nocturnal snoring. Results: The present authors observed that the prevalence of OSA increases with increasing age and obesity, and in some senior groups it is as high as 43.80% in men (37%–90% in previous published epidemiological studies) and 41.20% in women (in previous published epidemiological studies 50%–78%) in this epidemiological survey. High blood pressure, stress, poor oral hygiene, smoking and alcohol consumption have also been suggested as risk factors, but results are conflicting. Conclusion: The dentist must have the proper knowledge, management, and ability to treat patients at risk of OSA. Therefore starting with a dedicated section of the sleep questionnaire asking questions for sleep disorders, questionnaires for early diagnosis (such as the STOP-BANG questionnaire), a multidisciplinary approach, and pneumological examination can support this. Furthermore, the medical factors have to be addressed well to obtain successful treatment. These results may be related to a relationship between several dental diseases/factors (periodontitis, gingivitis, and hypertension) associated with mild OSA. Its difficult diagnosis, and the absence of a dedicated section on sleep disorders in the medical/dental record, can make its treatment more difficult.