Abstract: To evaluate the effect of retrolingual obstruction on polysomnograhy (PSG) of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods230 OSAHS patients proved as OSAHS by PSG were divided into two groups: the retrolingual obstruction group and the nonretrolingual obstruction group. Age, body mass index (BMI) and the main outcomes of PSG were compared between the two groups. ResultsAll 230 patients had an oropharynx obstruction, of them 120 had a retrolingual obstruction, 105 had a nasal obstruction and 53 had a nasal obstruction and retrolingual obstruction. Age, percentage of time in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep 1 phase and apnea index (AI) were higher in the group with retrolingual obstruction but the percentage of time in the NREM stage sleep 2 phrase and the hypopnea index (HI) were lower in the group with retrolingual obstruction than in the nonretroligual obstruction group. There were no significant differences in body mass index (BMI), percentage of time in the NREM sleep 3 phrase, percentage of time in the NREM sleep 4 phrase, percentage of time in the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phrase, the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the lowest oxygen situation level, the longest event with apnea or hypopnea and the total microarousal index (MI) between the two groups (P＞0.05). ConclusionMost OSAHS patients are old and with retrolingual obstruction, also they have worse disturbance sleep with a high AI and a low HI.

Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive, Airway obstruction, Polysomnography