Eustachian tube dysfunction in patients with severe sleep disordered breathing: evidence from inflation-deflation test

Some risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) such as upper respiratory airways abnormalities and obesity overlap with the risk factors for Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). In this study, we investigated the prevalence of ETD in a population of patients with OSA.
Tubal dysfunction was determined by tympanometry and inflation-deflation test in 36 patients diagnosed with severe OSA and 20 normal participants.
More than 80% of patients with OSA had concomitant ETD at least in one ear. Obese participants had a smaller tympanometric peak pressure (TPP) shift after inflation-deflation test than non-obese subjects. There was no signifycant correlation between TPP shift and duration of OSA.
High prevalence of concomitant ETD was determined in patients with severe OSA and obese individuals. Tubal function testis suggested in patients referred for OSA evaluation.