Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Edentulous Patients.

PURPOSE: To record the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in edentulous patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and establish a plausible hypothesis to explain the correlation of cognitive dysfunction and OSA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 315 edentulous patients (aged 60 to 65 years) visiting the outpatient department at Saraswati Dental College, Lucknow were recruited from January 2013 to October 2015. Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index (PDI) classification was used to assess the intraoral condition to relate it with the span of edentulousness. The BERLIN questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scales were used to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing, following which the patients were put through all-night polysomnography. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores were derived. Mild and moderate OSA patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe cognitive dysfunction based on SGRQ-C and SCD. Data were tabulated according to a new classification (Cognitive Dysfunction of Dental Sleep Medicine Patients [CDDSMP] Classification) designed specifically for this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS v15.0. Scores were tabulated as mean ± SD and median [IQR] values. Change from baseline was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

RESULTS: Mean scores at different time intervals were 3.03 ± 1.76 (3 months), 2.98 ± 1.80 (6 months), and 2.81 ± 1.84 (9 months). The median [IQR] values of scores at all time intervals except 9 months were 3 [1 to 5]. At 9 months, median [IQR] was 2 [1 to 5]. A significant change in scores was observed in the 3-month interval (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The severity of OSA and neurocognitive dysfunction could be directly related to the PDI classification and the span of edentulousness of the patient and modified mandibular advancement device treatment significantly improved the patients' condition, which was reflective from 3 months post-intervention itself.