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Sleep-disordered breathing and blood pressure in children: a meta-analysis

Elias Zintzaras1, Athanasios G Kaditis

  • 1Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece. zintza@med.uth.gr

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|February 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant link between moderate to severe obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children and elevated blood pressure (BP). More rigorous research is needed to confirm these findings on SDB and childhood BP risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is increasingly recognized in children.
  • Elevated blood pressure (BP) in childhood is a concern for long-term cardiovascular health.
  • The relationship between SDB severity and elevated BP in pediatric populations requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically estimate the risk of elevated blood pressure (BP) in children diagnosed with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
  • To analyze and explore the heterogeneity present in existing published studies examining SDB and BP in children.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database.
  • Included studies were pediatric cohort studies investigating the association between SDB and BP.
  • The primary exposure assessed was the level of SDB severity, with elevated systolic and diastolic BP as the main outcomes.

Main Results:

  • During wakefulness, moderate to severe SDB showed a trend towards increased risk for elevated systolic (OR, 1.87) and diastolic BP (OR, 2.21), but these were not statistically significant.
  • Significant heterogeneity was observed in studies reporting systolic BP (I(2) = 53%) and moderate heterogeneity for diastolic BP (I(2) = 31%).
  • During sleep, heterogeneity was high for elevated systolic BP (I(2) = 54%), with no heterogeneity for diastolic BP (I(2) = 0%), but results remained non-significant.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence does not support a causal link between moderate to severe SDB in childhood and an increased risk of elevated blood pressure.
  • Considerable heterogeneity exists across published studies, indicating variability in findings and methodologies.
  • There is a clear need for large-scale, methodologically rigorous investigations to definitively establish the relationship between SDB and elevated BP in children.
Abstract

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