Evaluation of vestibular functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background To determine the anatomical proximity of the vestibular nuclei to the respiratory nuclei and the effect of susceptibility of the posterior labyrinth to a hypoxic state on the vestibular system.Objective It was aimed to evaluate the possible effects of periodic hypoxia on vestibular reflexes and proprioceptive perception in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).Material and methods The study was conducted with 40 patients diagnosed with moderate and severe OSAS and 21 healthy individuals. All individuals were evaluated with Dizziness Handicap Inventory, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), video head impulse test (vHIT), videonystagmography (VNG) and sportKAT 3000.Results In the vHIT, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of anterior and posterior semicircular canal vestibulo-ocular reflex gains (p < .05). A negative correlation was found between the lateral gain asymmetry and RALP gain asymmetry and the awake blood oxygen level in the OSAS groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of wave response rates cVEMP 100 dB nHL and oVEMP 100–110 dB nHL (p < .05).Conclusion and Significance It was concluded that vestibular reflexes and proprioceptive perception were affected due to periodic/chronic hypoxia in patients with moderate and severe OSAS.