Evaluation of peripheral auditory pathways and brainstem in obstructive sleep apnea

Publication date: Available online 25 November 2016
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Erika Matsumura, Carla Gentile Matas, Fernanda Cristina Leite Magliaro, Raquel Meirelles Pedreño, Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho, Seisse Gabriela Gandolfi Sanches, Renata Mota Mamede Carvallo
IntroductionObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes changes in normal sleep architecture, fragmenting it chronically with intermittent hypoxia, leading to serious health consequences in the long term. It is believed that the occurrence of respiratory events during sleep, such as apnea and hypopnea, can impair the transmission of nerve impulses along the auditory pathway that are highly dependent on the supply of oxygen. However, this association is not well established in the literature.ObjectiveTo compare the evaluation of peripheral auditory pathway and brainstem among individuals with and without OSA.MethodsThe sample consisted of 38 adult males, mean age of 35.8 (±7.2), divided into four groups matched for age and Body Mass Index. The groups were classified based on polysomnography in: control (n=10), mild OSA (n=11) moderate OSA (n=8) and severe OSA (n=9). All study subjects denied a history of risk for hearing loss and underwent audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER). Statistical analyses were performed using three-factor ANOVA, 2-factor ANOVA, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. The significance level for all tests was 5%.ResultsThere was no difference between the groups for hearing thresholds, tympanometry and evaluated BAER parameters. An association was observed between the presence of OSA and changes in absolute latency of wave V (p=0.03). There was an association between moderate OSA and change of the latency of wave V (p=0.01).ConclusionThe presence of OSA is associated with changes in nerve conduction of acoustic stimuli in the auditory pathway in the brainstem. The increase in OSA severity does not promote worsening of responses assessed by audiometry, tympanometry and BAER.



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