Racial and Ethnic Differences in Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy Findings

Sunday, October 18, 2026

11:06 AM - 11:12 AM PT

Location: 403B

Presenting Author(s)

Matthew E. Lin, MD

Resident Physician
UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Matthew E. Lin, MD

Resident Physician
UCLA Department of Head and Neck Surgery
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Co-Author(s)

JD

Julia Dmowska, MD

Fellow
UCLA Medical Center
Santa Monica, California, United States
JD

Julia Dmowska, MD

Fellow
UCLA Medical Center
Santa Monica, California, United States

Senior Author(s)

Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH

Professor-in-Residence
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH

Professor-in-Residence
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):

Matthew E. Lin, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Although the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is greater in non-White and Hispanic – as compared to White, non-Hispanic – populations, there are no previous evaluations related to drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings. This cohort study examined the association between race/ethnicity and DISE findings.

Methods: Eligibility criteria included adults undergoing DISE by the senior author, diagnosed with OSA, and without previous pharyngeal surgery (other than previous tonsillectomy). Prospective data collection from 2004-2025 included clinicodemographic characteristics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index, apnea hypopnea index, and tonsil size) and DISE findings. Race was characterized as White, Hispanic (all races), Black, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), and Other. Bivariate analysis examined the association between race/ethnicity and DISE findings. Multivariable regression included adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, apnea-hypopnea index, and tonsil size.

Results: Study participants (n=774) were mostly male (n=648, 83.8%), White (n=576, 74.5%), with average age 50.8 years (SD=13.8). The distribution among non-White, non-Hispanic groups was 10.7% (n=83) Hispanic, 10.4% (n=80) API, 3.5% (n=27) Black, and 1.0% (n=8) Other. On bivariate analysis, the degree of oropharyngeal (p=0.004) and tongue obstruction (p=0.026) was associated with race/ethnicity. Multivariable regression demonstrated that, among patients with complete concentric collapse, API study participants were more likely than White study participants to have complete oropharyngeal lateral wall-related obstruction (OR=3.49, 95% CI 1.06-11.57). There were no other associations between race/ethnicity and DISE findings on multivariate regression.

Conclusions: Race and ethnicity were associated with the degree of airway obstruction relates to the oropharyngeal lateral walls and tongue. After adjustment for potential clinicodemographic confounders, the only associations were seen among API study participants.