Growth failure and sleep disordered breathing: a review of the literature

While otolaryngologists consider growth failure an absolute indication for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), they may not be accustomed to screening for poor growth, and thus unlikely to consider it when recommending a T&A. This paper will (a) familiarize otolaryngologists with the definition, prevalence, and etiology of growth failure and (b) review the published findings that examine the inter-relationship among sleep disordered breathing, growth failure, and adentonsillar hypertrophy in children.

This paper is divided into three sections. The first section presents a brief overview of growth failure for the otolaryngologist. The second section reviews the evidence base linking sleep disordered breathing, growth failure, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children. The anthropometric outcomes of children presenting for T&A, or having sleep symptoms assessed, are presented. The third section presents pilot data (n=28) on the prevalence of growth failure and sleep disordered breathing among children presenting for T&A at our institution.

Among children presenting for T&A or having sleep symptoms assessed, growth failure was at least twice the expected rate in six of eight published studies. Across these six studies, this rate ranged from a low of 6% of children <3rd percentile for weight and 6% <3rd percentile for height in one study, to a high of 52% who were <3rd percentile in weight in a second study, and 44% who were

Published studies, as well as our own pilot data support the hypothesis that SDB, secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy increases the risk of growth failure in children. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and sleep disordered breathing may be unrecognized risk factors in the etiology of growth failure. Otolaryngologists can play an important role in identifying growth failure, and referring children to the appropriate specialists.