Purpose: To determine whether preoperative physical examination, physiological examination, and MRI examination of the upper respiratory tract can yield predictive values for the indication of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).
Subjects and Methods: Thirty-seven patients who completed preoperative and 3-6 month-postoperative follow-up examinations, examination of nocturnal sleep and respiratory resistance via the nose and the mouth, and upper respiratory MRI examination were investigated.
Results: The AHI improvement rate was calculated using preoperative and postoperative AHI, and the correlation between the AHI improvement rate and the results of preoperative physical examination, physiological examination, and upper respiratory MRI examination was investigated. There was a significant positive correlation between the AuI improvement rate and the preoperative AHI (r=0.471, p=0.0033), body weight (r=0.496, p=0.0018), and BMI (r=0.438, p=0.0067). The sensitivity and specificity were 77% and 83%, respectively, if calculated with AHI=30; 84% and 83%, respectively, if calculated with weight=70kg; and 61% and 83%, respectively, if calculated with BMI=26 kg/m².
Conclusion: A higher AHI, weight, and BMI resulted in increased AHI improvement rates, and the predictive values for UPPP were considered to be AHI≥30, weight≥70kg, and BMI≥26kg/m².