Characteristics of pharyngeal paraesthesia symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate pharyngeal paraesthesia symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with snoring and suspected OSA as well as age-matched controls were recruited. All participants underwent nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) and pharyngeal paraesthesia assessment using the Glasgow-Edinburgh throat scale (GETS). The incidence and severity of pharyngeal paraesthesia symptoms were compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 280 patients who snored or were suspected of having OSA and 35 healthy, age-matched controls were recruited. The total pharyngeal paraesthesia symptom score was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the healthy group (12 [5, 23] vs. 3 [0, 9]; p < 0.001). The most frequent pharyngeal paraesthesia symptoms in the snore patients were Q7 (catarrh down the throat) and Q3 (discomfort/irritation in the throat), which are related to the irritability of the throat. The incidence of Q7 (OSA, 58% vs. controls, 14%; chi(2) = 23.66; p < 0.001), Q3 (OSA, 46% vs. controls, 3%; chi(2) = 23.07; p < 0.001), Q1 (feeling of something stuck in the throat; OSA, 33% vs. controls, 6%; chi(2) = 11.00; p = 0.001), Q6 (swelling in the throat; OSA, 31% vs. controls, 0%; chi(2) = 14.53; p < 0.001), Q9 (want to swallow all the time; OSA, 20% vs. controls, 6%; chi(2) = 6.28; p = 0.012), Q5 (throat closing off; OSA, 24% vs. controls, 6%; chi(2) = 6.16; p = 0.013), and Q2 (pain in the throat; OSA, 23% vs. controls, 6%; chi(2) = 5.32; p = 0.021) was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the controls CONCLUSIONS: Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea have higher pharyngeal paraesthesia symptoms scores and tend to have irritated throats compared to healthy controls. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03506178.