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CompletedNCT04980586CASAUpdated Jul 28, 2021

Cheeks Appearance as a Novel Predictor of Obstructive Sleep Apnea The CASA Score Study

An observational study in Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Breathing, Sleep-Disordered and Muscle Weakness, sponsored by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. Completed at 1 site in Brazil. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-07-28.

Sponsored by Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
319
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Cheeks appearance is a screening tool developed based on cheeks observation to identify volume, flaccidity or both to predict people with probable obstructive sleep apnea.

Read the detailed description

Cheeks Appearance for Sleep Apnea (CASA score) is a screening tool developed to observe adults people cheeks appearance to identify volume, being 0 for no volume, 1 for mild volume, 2 for moderate volume and 3 for severe volume; or flaccidity, being 0 for no flaccidity, 1 for mild flaccidity, 2 for moderate flaccidity and 3 for severe flaccidity. In the end of CASA score screening we sum up the score of volume with the score and the flaccidity score to reach the CASA score, the final result that can range from 0 to 6 points.

This study was applied in three moments, being the first one only the application of CASA score and a facial imaging to facilitate the replicability. The data collection and enrollment of 248 participants were made in a sleep private clinic in participants undergoing polysomnography. All this part of data collection was applied for a 3 months period. This first part was the validation of CASA score protocol with internal validity.

The second part was carried out 1 year after in which all participants enrolled were evaluated by CASA score and facial imaging, as the first part, in a sleep private clinic while doing polysomnography. Additionally, procedures such as ultrasonography images of specific orofacial muscles, followed by tongue and cheeks pressure evaluation were carried out just after the CASA score and facial imaging based on photography registers. In this second part, others 71 participants were recruited.

The third and last part was a case-control study in which 20 of the 71 anterior part of the data collection were invited to take part in the last part of the study, that was the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, so 10 non obstructive sleep apnea participants and 10 obstructive sleep apnea participants were chosen and invited, 19 accepted and carried out the last part. This last part was underwent in an outpatient clinic of an otorhinolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat physician (ENT) with a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT).

Description of the methods:

Ultrasonography was made with a portable device which was positioned in the face of the participant and slide for the direction needed to capture the image of the muscle targeted like masseter, buccinator and tongue. Those were the three muscles evaluated by the ultrasonography exam.

Tongue and cheeks pressure evaluation was made with IOPI medical equipment which had a small bulb coupled in the device and its bulb was positioned inside the mouth of the participant in the tongue and the participant was instructed to press as hard as he could against the hard palate. In the cheeks was positioned in the oral vestibule between the cheek and the teeth, and the pressure was applied by the cheeks.

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): a micro camera of a endoscopy was inserted in the participant nose to look the nasopharynx and oropharynx. The fiberoptic was kept in the nasopharynx to see the participant eating, first a liquid consistency (5 and 10 ML), pureed consistency (5 and 10 ML) and solid food (half cracker and 1 whole cracker). The whole exam lasted 15 to 20 minutes, maximum.

02

Conditions studied

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Breathing, Sleep-Disordered
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Muscle Disorder
  • Face
  • Swallowing Disorder

Keywords

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Polysomnography
  • Orofacial myofunctional disorders
  • Speech and Language and Hearing Science
  • Ultrasonography
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Muscle Strength
  • Sleep medicine
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In context

Muscle Weakness

601 studies on the registry are indexed under Muscle Weakness; 99 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 319 is above the median of 98 across 144 observational studies indexed under Muscle Weakness.

Browse Muscle Weakness studies →

Lead sponsor

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre is the lead sponsor of 450 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Adults over 18 years old with sleep complaints undergoing he polysomnography in the private sleep clinic during the data collection period.

Inclusion criteria

  • Sleep complaints
  • 18 years old or older
  • Undergoing polysomnography in the private sleep clinic

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous OSA diagnose
  • Severe comorbidities such as neurologic diseases or others condition that could cause facial edema or facial deformities
  • Facial hair that could difficult the facial landmarks visualization
  • Previous facial surgical procedure
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
319 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Non-OSA Groups

    Participants with apnea-hypopnea index \< 5 events per hour of sleep.

    Diagnostic Test: CASA score protocol to Non-obstructive sleep apnea Group

  • Mild OSA Group

    Participants with apnea-hypopnea index \> 5 \< 15 events per hour of sleep.

    Diagnostic Test: CASA score protocol to Mild obstructive sleep apnea Group

  • Moderate OSA group

    Participants with apnea-hypopnea index \> 15 \< 30 events per hour of sleep.

    Diagnostic Test: CASA score protocol to Moderate obstructive sleep apnea Group

  • Severe OSA Group

    Participants with apnea-hypopnea index \> 30 events per hour of sleep.

    Diagnostic Test: CASA score protocol to Severe obstructive sleep apnea Group

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testCASA score protocol to Non-obstructive sleep apnea Group

    CASA score observe the cheeks appearance: volume of the cheeks (0, 1, 2 or 3) and flaccidity, (0, 1, 2 or 3). The final score is volume + flaccidity score to have the CASA score (0-6). A photography was captured to enable the blinded evaluation of three evaluators of each participant. Ultrasonography was positioned in the face of the participant and slide to capture the muscle image (masseter muscle, buccinator and the tongue). Tongue and cheeks pressure were assessed with a device with a small bulb. Inside the mouth in the tongue, the participant is instructed to press the bulb against the hard palate. In the cheeks, the bulb is placed between the cheek and the teeth and the participant press the bulb with the cheek. Swallowing evaluation with an endoscope that enters in the nose of the participant to observe the the oropharynx; while the participant is eating liquid consistency, pureed consistency and solid food.

    Also known as: Photography registers, Ultrasonography in Specific Orofacial Muscles by BodyMetrix device, Tongue and Cheeks Pressure Evaluation by Iowa Oral Performance Instrument Medical Device, Swallowing evaluation by Endoscopy

  • Diagnostic testCASA score protocol to Mild obstructive sleep apnea Group

    CASA score observe the cheeks appearance: volume of the cheeks (0, 1, 2 or 3) and flaccidity, (0, 1, 2 or 3). The final score is volume + flaccidity score to have the CASA score (0-6). A photography was captured to enable the blinded evaluation of three evaluators of each participant. Ultrasonography was positioned in the face of the participant and slide to capture the muscle image (masseter muscle, buccinator and the tongue). Tongue and cheeks pressure were assessed with a device with a small bulb. Inside the mouth in the tongue, the participant is instructed to press the bulb against the hard palate. In the cheeks, the bulb is placed between the cheek and the teeth and the participant press the bulb with the cheek. Swallowing evaluation with an endoscope that enters in the nose of the participant to observe the the oropharynx; while the participant is eating liquid consistency, pureed consistency and solid food.

    Also known as: Photography registers, Ultrasonography in Specific Orofacial Muscles by BodyMetrix device, Tongue and Cheeks Pressure Evaluation by Iowa Oral Performance Instrument Medical Device, Swallowing evaluation by Endoscopy

  • Diagnostic testCASA score protocol to Moderate obstructive sleep apnea Group

    CASA score observe the cheeks appearance: volume of the cheeks (0, 1, 2 or 3) and flaccidity, (0, 1, 2 or 3). The final score is volume + flaccidity score to have the CASA score (0-6). A photography was captured to enable the blinded evaluation of three evaluators of each participant. Ultrasonography was positioned in the face of the participant and slide to capture the muscle image (masseter muscle, buccinator and the tongue). Tongue and cheeks pressure were assessed with a device with a small bulb. Inside the mouth in the tongue, the participant is instructed to press the bulb against the hard palate. In the cheeks, the bulb is placed between the cheek and the teeth and the participant press the bulb with the cheek. Swallowing evaluation with an endoscope that enters in the nose of the participant to observe the the oropharynx; while the participant is eating liquid consistency, pureed consistency and solid food.

    Also known as: Photography registers, Ultrasonography in Specific Orofacial Muscles by BodyMetrix device, Tongue and Cheeks Pressure Evaluation by Iowa Oral Performance Instrument Medical Device, Swallowing evaluation by Endoscopy

  • Diagnostic testCASA score protocol to Severe obstructive sleep apnea Group

    CASA score observe the cheeks appearance: volume of the cheeks (0, 1, 2 or 3) and flaccidity, (0, 1, 2 or 3). The final score is volume + flaccidity score to have the CASA score (0-6). A photography was captured to enable the blinded evaluation of three evaluators of each participant. Ultrasonography was positioned in the face of the participant and slide to capture the muscle image (masseter muscle, buccinator and the tongue). Tongue and cheeks pressure were assessed with a device with a small bulb. Inside the mouth in the tongue, the participant is instructed to press the bulb against the hard palate. In the cheeks, the bulb is placed between the cheek and the teeth and the participant press the bulb with the cheek. Swallowing evaluation with an endoscope that enters in the nose of the participant to observe the the oropharynx; while the participant is eating liquid consistency, pureed consistency and solid food.

    Also known as: Photography registers, Ultrasonography in Specific Orofacial Muscles by BodyMetrix device, Tongue and Cheeks Pressure Evaluation by Iowa Oral Performance Instrument Medical Device, Swallowing evaluation by Endoscopy

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Cheeks appearance

    Identify cheeks volume and cheeks flaccidity, choose the correspondent number of volume and flaccidity 0, 1, 2 or 3, sum up both and reach the final score that is CAS score.

    Time frame: Immediately after the evaluation

Secondary outcomes

  1. Thickness evaluation of specific orofacial muscles

    Identify the thickness of the masseter, the buccinator and the tongue of each participant and compare with cheeks appearance outcome

    Time frame: Immediately after the evaluation

  2. Tongue and Cheeks pressure

    Identify the maximum pressure of the tongue and the maximum pressure of the cheek (both sides) and compare with cheeks appearance and thickness evaluation outcomes.

    Time frame: Immediately after the evaluation

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA)
    Porto Alegre, RS 90035903, Brazil
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Agha B, Johal A. Facial phenotype in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sleep Res. 2017 Apr;26(2):122-131. doi: 10.1111/jsr.12485. Epub 2016 Dec 26. PubMed 28019049 ↗
  • Harrington JJ, Avidan AY. Treatment of sleep disorders in elderly patients. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2005 Sep;7(5):339-52. doi: 10.1007/s11940-005-0027-x. PubMed 16079039 ↗
  • Guimaraes KC, Drager LF, Genta PR, Marcondes BF, Lorenzi-Filho G. Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 May 15;179(10):962-6. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200806-981OC. Epub 2009 Feb 20. PubMed 19234106 ↗
  • Lee RW, Chan AS, Grunstein RR, Cistulli PA. Craniofacial phenotyping in obstructive sleep apnea--a novel quantitative photographic approach. Sleep. 2009 Jan;32(1):37-45. PubMed 19189777 ↗
  • Perri RA, Kairaitis K, Cistulli P, Wheatley JR, Amis TC. Surface cephalometric and anthropometric variables in OSA patients: statistical models for the OSA phenotype. Sleep Breath. 2014 Mar;18(1):39-52. doi: 10.1007/s11325-013-0845-0. Epub 2013 Apr 13. PubMed 23584845 ↗
  • Lee RW, Petocz P, Prvan T, Chan AS, Grunstein RR, Cistulli PA. Prediction of obstructive sleep apnea with craniofacial photographic analysis. Sleep. 2009 Jan;32(1):46-52. PubMed 19189778 ↗
  • Kim AM, Keenan BT, Jackson N, Chan EL, Staley B, Poptani H, Torigian DA, Pack AI, Schwab RJ. Tongue fat and its relationship to obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2014 Oct 1;37(10):1639-48. doi: 10.5665/sleep.4072. PubMed 25197815 ↗
  • Yoshikawa M, Yoshida M, Tsuga K, Akagawa Y, Groher ME. Comparison of three types of tongue pressure measurement devices. Dysphagia. 2011 Sep;26(3):232-7. doi: 10.1007/s00455-010-9291-3. Epub 2010 Jul 11. PubMed 20623302 ↗
  • Valbuza JS, de Oliveira MM, Zancanella E, Conti CF, Prado LB, Carvalho LB, do Prado GF. Swallowing dysfunction related to obstructive sleep apnea: a nasal fibroscopy pilot study. Sleep Breath. 2011 May;15(2):209-13. doi: 10.1007/s11325-010-0474-9. Epub 2011 Jan 13. PubMed 21229321 ↗
  • Prikladnicki A, Martinez D, Brunetto MG, Fiori CZ, Lenz MDCS, Gomes E. Diagnostic performance of cheeks appearance in sleep apnea. Cranio. 2018 Jul;36(4):214-221. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2017.1376426. Epub 2017 Sep 21. PubMed 28933667 ↗
  • Smith-Ryan AE, Fultz SN, Melvin MN, Wingfield HL, Woessner MN. Reproducibility and validity of A-mode ultrasound for body composition measurement and classification in overweight and obese men and women. PLoS One. 2014 Mar 11;9(3):e91750. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091750. eCollection 2014. PubMed 24618841 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 28, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04980586
Lead sponsor
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 28, 2021
Start date
Jan 10, 2019
Primary completion
Mar 26, 2019
Completion
Apr 26, 2021
Last update
Jul 28, 2021

Study contacts

Dr. Denis Martinez
study chair · Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA)

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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