# Association of Morphological Varieties of Soft Palate and Airway Measurement Among Riyadh Population: A Retrospective Cephalometric Analysis

## TL;DR

This study found that the shape of the soft palate and airway measurements vary with age in the Riyadh population, with middle-aged individuals showing larger upper airway diameters and older individuals having greater mandibular plane hyoid distances.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how soft palate morphology and airway measurements are associated with age in a specific population.

## Key findings

- Middle-aged patients (31–50 years) had the highest upper airway diameter (UAD) measurements.
- Older patients (50+ years) showed higher mandibular plane hyoid distance (MN-HY) values.
- Straight-line shaped soft palates were more common in older age groups and associated with normal airway measurements.

## Abstract

Background: It is anticipated that the size and morphology of the airways will shift because of the development of the maxillofacial bone and the soft tissues. The soft palate plays a major role in various functions and may have an impact over the changes in the airway.

Aim: To evaluate the association of morphological varieties of soft palate and airway measurement among three different age-groups of Riyadh population.

Methodology: Patients who were obese, had mild-to-moderate breathing issue, and young patients seeking orthodontic treatment were advised to get lateral cephalogram. Further, they were divided into three age-groups and the upper airway diameter (UAD), mandibular plane hyoid distance (MN-HY) was measured. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis.

Result: This study involved 831 patients, among which, 31–50-year-olds had greater mean UAD (12.54 ± 3.74), whereas 50+ had higher MN-HY (13.23 ± 6.22). S-shaped soft palate had greater mean UAD (19.63 ± 8.14), but straight line-shaped had higher MN-HY (13.94 ± 5.8). People between the ages of 10 and 30 (100%) had an undefined soft palate shape, while those between 31 and 50 years (38.2%) had a crooked one and those over 50 (34.1%) had a straight one (p < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression demonstrates that the MN-HY ( = 1.607; p < 0.001) is substantially associated with older age-groups (p < 0.001). The majority of straight-line soft palates were associated with the majority of normal range UAD and MN-HY (p < 0.01) values.

Conclusion: A significant association found between the changes in soft palate and the size of the airway. Middle aged patients showed higher UAD, while the older age group showed higher MN-HY.