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Published on: December 6, 2016
[Changes of sleep architecture in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]
Da-bo Liu1, Li-feng Zhou, Jian-wen Zhong
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou Chindren's Hospital, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Insights
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children significantly disrupts sleep architecture, leading to fragmented sleep and potential developmental issues. This study highlights the impact of OSAS on sleep stages and arousal patterns in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent condition in children.
- Sleep architecture is crucial for healthy child development.
- Understanding OSAS's impact on sleep is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on the sleep architecture of children.
- To correlate OSAS severity with observed changes in sleep patterns.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnography was conducted on 83 children diagnosed with OSAS.
- Key sleep parameters monitored included arousal, snoring index, oxygen desaturation, and sleep stages (I, II, SWS, REM).
- Diagnosis of OSAS followed established pediatric criteria, including apnea/hypopnea index and oxygen saturation levels.
Main Results:
- Children with OSAS exhibited significantly increased Stage I sleep and decreased Stage II, Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
- The study observed elevated numbers of arousals and a high snoring index in the OSAS group.
- Significant nocturnal hypoxia was noted, with nadir O2 saturation levels indicating severe oxygen desaturation.
Conclusions:
- OSAS significantly alters children's sleep architecture, characterized by sleep fragmentation due to hypoxia and frequent arousals.
- The severity of OSAS is directly related to the degree of sleep architecture disruption.
- Children with OSAS may experience learning difficulties and failure to thrive, underscoring the need for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Objective:
To explore how obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects children's sleep architecture.
Methods:
Eighty-three children with OSAS were reviewed; every patient was monitored with polysommography for 7 hours at night for 11 parameters, including the number of arousal, snoring index, nadir O(2) desaturation, stage I %, stage II %, show wave sleep (SWS)% and rapid eye movement (REM)%. The basis for diagnosis of OSAS was the widely accepted pediatric diagnostic criteria of apnea/hypopnea index, apnea/ hypopnea index of > 1 episode/hour, nadir O(2) desaturation < 92%. Sleep was scored manually according to the standard set by Rechtschaffen.
Results:
In OSAS group, the number of arousal was 22.5 +/- 1.4, snoring index was 70.6 +/- 16.5, and/or SaO(2) was (73.8 +/- 1.9)%. OSAS group had increased stage I : (45.8 +/- 2.0)% vs. (2.3 +/- 1.1)%, t = 22.46, P < 0.01 and decreased stage II : (23.9 = 1.7)% vs (47.9 = 4.4)%, t = - 14.18, P < 0.01, SWS (15.6 +/- 1.8)% vs. (21.1 +/- 5.0)%, t = - 3.123, P < 0.01, REM (14.7 +/- 1.5)% VS. (28.2 +/- 4.1)%, T = -8.923, p < 0.01.
Conclusion:
The severity of OSAS relates to changes of sleep architecture in children. Intermittent nocturnal hypoxia secondary to apnea/hypopnea, and frequent electroencephalogram arousals from sleep may result in significant sleep fragmentation. Children with OSAS had learning problems and failure to thrive.
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