The results showed that there was a high percentage of naso-oropharyngeal disorders, such as: recurrent upper-airway diseases (54.2 % ), nasal breathing disorders (63.5 % ), and hypertrophy of tonsils (57 % ). There was also a high percentage of general characteristics, such as alcohol use (64 % ), excessive daytime sleepiness (85.5 % ), overweight (63 % ), and hypertension (51.2 % ). The regression summary for the dependent variable AHI if p-level = 0.0042 (R = 0.63347013) included age, BMI, hypertension, cardiac disorders, headaches, nasal obstruction, hypertrophy of pharyngeal muscles, tongue level, submental fat and slow-wave sleep (S3 + S4 % ).
In conclusion recurrent upper-airway diseases, nasal obstruction, and hypertrophy of tonsils in combination with smoking and alcohol caused the changes in the pharyngeal and lingual muscles. The latter gives rise to such sleep apnea-related problems as heart complaints, hypertension, headache and shortage of slow-wave sleep (SWS).