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Six-month follow-up of children with obstructive sleep apnoea
J M Harvey1, M J O'Callaghan, P D Wales
1Developmental Clinic, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. jharvey@mater.org.au
Insights
Surgical intervention significantly improves sleep behavior in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, it does not impact their development or temperament.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in children that can affect development, temperament, and sleep behavior.
- Surgical intervention is a common treatment for pediatric OSA, but its effects on non-respiratory outcomes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine changes in development, temperament, and sleep behavior in children referred for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- To assess the impact of surgical intervention on these outcomes over a 6-month period.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study design was employed with 56 children referred for OSA undergoing polysomnographic sleep studies.
- Parents completed sleep and temperament questionnaires, and children received developmental assessments at baseline and 6 months.
- Children were categorized into intervention (n=24) and non-intervention (n=15) groups after excluding primary snorers.
Main Results:
- Overall improvement in night-time and day-time sleep behavior was observed in the total group, regardless of intervention status.
- The intervention group showed a more marked improvement in sleep behavior compared to the non-intervention group.
- Surgical intervention did not lead to significant changes in developmental scores (Griffiths) or temperament.
Conclusions:
- Surgical intervention is effective in improving sleep behavior in children with OSA.
- Development and temperament remain unaffected by surgical intervention for OSA in this cohort.
- Further research may explore long-term effects and other potential benefits of intervention.
Objectives:
This study examined prospectively changes in development, temperament and sleep related behaviour in children referred for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and polysomnographic sleep study, some of whom had surgical intervention.
Methodology:
Using a prospective cohort study design, parents of 56 children referred for OSA completed sleep and temperament questionnaires and their child was assessed developmentally at the time of the polysomnographic sleep study. Forty (72%) of the children were neurologically normal. At 6 months, 42 children were reassessed using sleep and temperament questionnaires and a developmental assessment. After excluding the primary snorers, subjects were categorised as having had intervention (n = 24) or not (n = 15), and differences over the 6-month period in Griffiths scores, temperament and sleep related behaviour were examined.
Results:
Regardless of intervention status, there was an improvement in night-time and day-time sleep behaviour for the total group, though the extent of improvement was more marked in the intervention group. For the neurologically normal children, improvement in the sleep behaviour was only significant for the intervention group (P < 0.05). Intervention did not result in any significant changes in Griffiths developmental score or temperament.
Conclusion:
Surgical intervention improves sleep behaviour in children though not temperament or development.