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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Preliminary evidence of behavioral and cognitive sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea in children
Daniel S Lewin1, Raymond C Rosen, Sandra J England
1University of Pittsburgh, Medical School, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, E-704, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. dlewin@speakeasy.net
Insights
Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) exhibit significant daytime behavioral and cognitive issues, including attention and verbal deficits. Early evaluation of these disturbances is crucial for effective intervention in pediatric OSA.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neuropsychology
- Child Behavior
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in children (1.1-2.9%).
- Neuropsychological deficits are known in adult OSA.
- Limited research exists on childhood OSA's cognitive impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize daytime sequelae of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Investigate behavioral and cognitive deficits in children with OSA.
Main Methods:
- Compared 28 children with OSA to 10 healthy controls.
- Assessed sleep, behavior, and cognitive function using standard measures.
- Evaluated OSA severity and its association with outcomes.
Main Results:
- Children with OSA showed significantly more behavioral problems (parents' reports).
- Moderate to severe OSA linked to lower sustained attention scores.
- OSA severity correlated with verbal ability deficits.
Conclusions:
- Childhood OSA has identifiable daytime sequelae.
- Behavioral and cognitive disturbances are significant in pediatric OSA.
- Evaluating daytime issues is vital for OSA intervention decisions.
Objectives:
To characterize the daytime sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children.
Background:
OSA syndrome is a common disorder in children with estimates of prevalence ranging from 1.1 to 2.9%. Numerous studies have documented neuropsychological deficits in adults with OSA, although only a few preliminary studies have described these problems in children with OSA.
Methods:
In the present study, otherwise healthy children with OSA (n=28), and a healthy age-matched comparison group (n=10) were assessed with standard measures of sleep, behavior, and cognitive function.
Results:
Children with OSA had significantly more behavior problems than the healthy comparison group based on parents' reports (F=7.29, P<0.005). Children diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA had significantly lower scores on a timed cancellation task that assesses sustained attention (F=10.0, P<0.01). A significant association was found between OSA severity (rho=-86, P<0.01) and measures of verbal ability.
Conclusions:
These initial findings suggest that there are identifiable daytime sequelae of childhood OSA and that it is important to evaluate these daytime disturbances in making determinations about intervention.
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