Patients' and cohabitants' reports on snoring and daytime sleepiness, 1-8 years after surgical treatment of snoring

A follow-up study was performed with the aim to evaluate all individuals surgically treated by the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or laser uvulopalatoplasty (LUPP) method from a whole county in Sweden, 1-8 years after surgery, by assessing snoring occurrence and daytime sleepiness, as experienced by the patients and their cohabitants. Questionnaires were mailed to all operated people (n = 457) and were returned by 91 % (346 men, 69 women) preoperatively diagnosed as habitual snorers (n = 255), cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(n = 110)and unspecified snorers (n = 48). In addition 345 bedpartners participated. For outcome of surgery, no significant differences in diagnoses or sex were found. Improvement in snoring occurrence was reported by 89.6% of the patients, confirmed by 92% of the cohabitants (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). The remaining snoring occurrence was significantly dependent on the surgical method and the time after operation. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was experienced by 73.3% of the patients compared to 67% reported by the cohabitants. Of 415 patients operated on, 18% were free from snoring and 25% were free from EDS. Individuals with a shorter time since surgery reported less snoring. The UPPP method gave a significantly better result than LUPP for the symptom 'snoring'.