Dental and Medical Problems

Dent Med Probl
Index Copernicus (ICV 2021) – 132.50
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ISSN 1644-387X (print)
ISSN 2300-9020 (online)
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Dental and Medical Problems

2023, vol. 60, nr 1, January-March, p. 13–22

doi: 10.17219/dmp/157457

Publication type: original article

Language: English

License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

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Al Maaitah EF, Al-Musfir TM, Abed Al Jawad F, Alhashimi N, Abu Alhaija ES. Upper airway dimensions and the skeletal parameters in orthodontic patients who developed moderate–severe COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic. Dent Med Probl. 2023;60(1):13–22. doi:10.17219/dmp/157457

Upper airway dimensions and the skeletal parameters in orthodontic patients who developed moderate–severe COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic

Emad Farhan Al Maaitah1,2,A,B,D,E,F, Tumadher Mohammed Al-Musfir1,B,D,E,F, Feras Abed Al Jawad1,C,D,E,F, Najah Alhashimi1,B,D,E,F, Elham Saleh Abu Alhaija3,A,B,C,D,E,F

1 Department of Dentistry, Oral Health Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

2 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

3 College of Dental Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Background. Large airway dimensions are associated with a rapid decline in the lung function and a higher risk of hospitalization. Therefore, the airway dimensions of healthy subjects who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Objectives. The objectives of this study were to measure the upper airway dimensions and the craniofacial skeletal parameters in patients who tested positive for COVID-19, to compare the upper airway dimensions and the craniofacial skeletal parameters between patients who developed no/mild symptoms and those with moderate–severe COVID-19 symptoms, and to assess any association of the skeletal relationships (anteroposterior (AP) and vertical) and the upper airway dimensions with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms in adult subjects.
Material and methods. A total of 204 orthodontic patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were evaluated. Of these, only 137 met the inclusion criteria. The sample was further subdivided into 2 groups based on the severity of symptoms: cases (moderate–severe symptoms; n = 56); and controls (asymptomatic/ mild symptoms; n = 81). The upper airway dimensions and the skeletal parameters were measured on lateral cephalograms. The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test was used to detect differences between the cases and the controls. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the studied variables and the severity of symptoms.
Results. The cases had a reduced lower face height (LFH) and a reduced perpendicular distance from the hyoid bone to the line connecting the anteroinferior limit of the 3rd cervical vertebra (C3) and the retrognathion point (RGN) (HH1) as compared to the controls. Regression analysis revealed a significant association of LFH (p = 0.013), the vertical airway length (VAL) (p = 0.002) and HH1 (p = 0.021) with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Conclusions. The types of malocclusion were similar in the cases and the controls. Patients with reduced LFH and VAL, and a superiorly positioned hyoid bone in relation to the mandible developed more severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Key words

symptoms, severity, skeletal, upper airway, COVID-19

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