Abstract:

Obstructive sleep apnea（OSA）is a sleepdisordered breathing condition characterized by the recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep，resulting in ventilation dysfunction and disruption of sleep architecture.Advances in medical imaging and computational technologies have facilitated the application of computational fluid dynamics（CFD）as a critical tool for investigating the fluid dynamics of the upper airway in OSA patients.CFD is particularly valuable for simulating changes in upper airway flow fields under different treatment modalities and for predicting treatment efficacy，demonstrating significant potential in clinical applications.This review summarizes the research progress in CFD-based comparative analysis of upper airway flow fields in OSA patients before and after treatment，so as to provide a reference for the management and therapeutic optimization of OSA.

Key words: Obstructive sleep apnea, Upper airway, Computational fluid dynamics, Orthodontic treatment, Continuous positive airway pressure