P059 Sport dentists’ role in dental sleep medicine: examination, screening and evaluation for sleep-related breathing disorders

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in athletes cannot be overlooked because they contribute to daytime sleepiness and could increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity. This study reports on the role of sports dentists in clinical examination, screening and evaluation for OSA. Forty-four male rugby league athletes (27.1±3.3y; 176.2±5.8cm; 89.7±11.6 kg; BMI 28.8±3.1; neck circumference, 42.6±3.3 cm) were administered the Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS], Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], and the Level III sleep test (SAS-2200). Intraoral cavity was examined using the modified Mallampati grade (MM). A total of 90.9% (40/44) of the athletes had respiratory event index (REI) ≥5. Thirty athletes had mild OSA (68.2%), eight had moderate OSA (18.2%), and two had severe OSA (4.5%). Nineteen athletes (43.2%) reported ESS ≥ 10, and 25 athletes (56.8%) reported poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5.5). The minimum SpO2 was reduced to 90.3±3.5%. The MM and REI were strongly correlated with body weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), and neck circumference (p=0.004). MM was moderately correlated with REI (p=0.014). The REI was strongly but negatively correlated with SpO2 (p<0.001) and strongly with PSQI (p=0.002). The ESS was strongly correlated with age (p=0.004) and PSQI (p=0.001). The examination revealed that 86.3% of the athletes were eligible for oral appliance treatment. This study suggests dentists managing athletes should assess OSA risks through anthropometric measurements, examination of the intraoral cavity for a narrow airway or enlarged tonsils/tissue blocking the airway, evaluation of daytime sleepiness and sleep quality, and an in-home sleep testing.