Correlation Analysis between Self-reported Measures in Patients with OSA / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our study evaluated the necessity of measuring the quality of life (QOL) with physiologic parameters by assessing inter-relationship between self reported measures, which are known as a tool for evaluation of generic and disease specific QOL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From Oct. 2004 to Apr. 2006, polysomnograpy (PSG) results of 127 patients were retrospectively reviewed. QOL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Self-reported measures including Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI). The association between each domain on the SF-36 and self-reported measures were examined by Spearman correlation measures. RESULTS: ESS, SSS, PSQI and ISI correlated well with SF-36, except for ESS, which didn't with Physical Functioning of SF-36. PSG indexes of patients with OSAS did not show correlation with self-reported measures. CONCLUSION: All self reported measures including generic and disease specific QOL have their own significance in reflecting psychosomatic status in patients with OSAS. Self-reported measures could be more informative in the reflecting severity and pre/post treatment results in the aspect of psychosomatic effects in OSAS patients.

Correlation Analysis between SF36 and Polysomnographic Measures in Patients with OSAS / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the trend in the medical field to understand the effect of diseases on the quality of life, such a study regarding sleep apnea has not been prevailing in Korea. This study analyzed the result of a Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), which is widely used to evaluate the effect of sleep apnea on patient's medical condition. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study included 131 patients of over 18 years of age and who participated in the SF-36 survey and finished the polysomnography study. The relationship between parameters was conducted with Spearman, and the comparison with the independent variables was done by running a paired t-test. RESULTS: AHI was on average 30.9+/-23.5 and BMI was on average 26+/-3.9 kg/m. Except body pain, all values which derived from the statistics of eight categories of SF-36 from the patients was significantly lower than those of the healthy control. In the comparable analysis of polysomnography and SF-36, AHI, the total sleep time, and the sleep efficacy (%) had significant correlation, but correlation coefficient was low (r<3.0). CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the quality of life of OSAS patients should be evaluated beside PSG in order to find out the degree of seriousness of OSAS and result of treatment.

Anchoring Suture for Correction of Septal Deviation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Septoplasty is often dismissed as a simple procedure and this can lead to unsatisfactory results. Although multiple techniques of septal surgery have been performed, approximately 20 to 30% of patients find their symptoms are not corrected adequately. Causes of failure may be found in the inherent memory of that cartilage possesses or in the requirement to end septal correction surgery when support of nose is at risk for compromise. The purpose of this study was to introduce and evaluate the efficacy of an anchoring suture-a new technique for correction of septal deviation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 40 patients who underwent septoplasty with anchoring suture between October 2003 and December 2004. All patients completed their symptom, discomfort score on visual analogue scale (VAS) and acoustic rhinometry was performed before and 2 months after septoplasty with anchoring suture. Data was analyzed by paired t-test. RESULTS: Patients symptom and discomfort score were decreased and acoustic rhinometry parameters were increased significantly. There was no complication reported. CONCLUSION: Anchoring suture is simple, safe and attractive method for correction of septal deviation and some aspects do require further investigation.