Impact of obesity on uvulopalatopharyngoplasty success in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective single-center study in Taiwan

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, in Asian patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), obesity is a better predictor of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) failure than Friedman stage III. Objectives: This study evaluated UPPP success rates in obese and non-obese Asian patients treated for severe OSA. Methods: Records of patients who underwent UPPP for treatment of OSA were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, and Friedman stage were compared in non-obese (body mass index (BMI) <27 kg/m²) and obese (BMI ≥27 kg/m²) patients. Treatment success was defined as >50% reduction in preoperative AHI or postoperative AHI of <20 events/h. Results: Treatment success was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in the obese group (24.6%) compared with the non-obese group (62.5%). After adjusting for gender, age, BMI, Friedman stage, and preoperative AHI and ESS score, obesity was a significant independent negative predictor of treatment success (adjusted OR = 0.297, 95% CI = 0.114-0.773, p = 0.013).