TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea after treatment for advanced T-stage head and neck cancer
AU - Karsten, R. T.
AU - Rijken, J. A.
AU - Toprak, I.
AU - Kant, E.
AU - de Bree, R.
AU - Smeele, L. E.
AU - van den Brekel, M. W. M.
AU - de Vries, N.
AU - Ravesloot, M. J. L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Purpose: Treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) may lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but conclusive results on the prevalence of OSA are lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of OSA in a cohort of patients treated for advanced T-stage HNC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary cancer care centers including patients at least 1 year after treatment with curative intent with surgery and/or (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT) for advanced T-staged (T3-4) cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. A polysomnography (PSG) was performed in all participants. OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of 15 events/h or higher or an AHI of 5 events/h and higher with OSA related symptoms, such as sleeping problems, daytime dysfunction and/or cardiac/metabolic comorbidities collected through file review and questionnaires. Results: Of the 67 participants, 48 (72%, 95% CI 59–82%) were diagnosed with OSA. Possible risk factors are male gender, higher BMI, greater neck circumference, more nicotine pack years, cardiometabolic comorbidities, use of medication with sleepiness as side effect, present tonsils, lower T-stage (T3 vs. T4 stage), higher AJCC stage and a HPV-negative tumor. Conclusion: In this population of advanced T-stage HNC patients, the prevalence of OSA was 72%, which is considerably higher than in the general population (2–50%). Given the high prevalence, screening of this entire subgroup for OSA may be indicated. Future studies to identify high risk factors and develop an OSA screening protocol are needed.
AB - Purpose: Treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) may lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but conclusive results on the prevalence of OSA are lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of OSA in a cohort of patients treated for advanced T-stage HNC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary cancer care centers including patients at least 1 year after treatment with curative intent with surgery and/or (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT) for advanced T-staged (T3-4) cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. A polysomnography (PSG) was performed in all participants. OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of 15 events/h or higher or an AHI of 5 events/h and higher with OSA related symptoms, such as sleeping problems, daytime dysfunction and/or cardiac/metabolic comorbidities collected through file review and questionnaires. Results: Of the 67 participants, 48 (72%, 95% CI 59–82%) were diagnosed with OSA. Possible risk factors are male gender, higher BMI, greater neck circumference, more nicotine pack years, cardiometabolic comorbidities, use of medication with sleepiness as side effect, present tonsils, lower T-stage (T3 vs. T4 stage), higher AJCC stage and a HPV-negative tumor. Conclusion: In this population of advanced T-stage HNC patients, the prevalence of OSA was 72%, which is considerably higher than in the general population (2–50%). Given the high prevalence, screening of this entire subgroup for OSA may be indicated. Future studies to identify high risk factors and develop an OSA screening protocol are needed.
KW - (Chemo)radiotherapy
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Obstructive sleep apnea
KW - Posttreatment
KW - Surgery
KW - Survivors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184408618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00405-024-08467-6
DO - 10.1007/s00405-024-08467-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 38326581
SN - 0937-4477
VL - 281
SP - 1941
EP - 1952
JO - European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS)
JF - European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS)
IS - 4
ER -