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Upper Airway Collapsibility

Meaning

Upper Airway Collapsibility is a measure of the structural and functional integrity of the pharyngeal airway, quantifying its inherent tendency to narrow or fully obstruct during sleep, which is the primary pathological characteristic of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This physiological parameter is highly relevant in hormonal health, as conditions like low testosterone, clinical hypothyroidism, and excess adipose tissue deposition, which are often hormonally mediated, can significantly exacerbate the condition. Assessing collapsibility helps accurately determine the severity of sleep-disordered breathing and guides specific therapeutic interventions aimed at maintaining critical airway patency.