C-reactive protein, obstructive sleep apnea, and cognitive dysfunction in school-aged children
David Gozal1, Valerie McLaughlin Crabtree, Oscar Sans Capdevila
1Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 570 South Preston Street, Suite 204, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. david.gozal@louisville.edu
Insights
Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) show higher inflammation markers. Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in OSA children indicate increased risk for cognitive deficits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neuroinflammation
- Child Cognitive Development
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is linked to significant neurobehavioral and cognitive issues.
- However, cognitive impairment is not universal among children with OSA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate systemic inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serum levels.
- To identify children with OSA at greater risk for cognitive morbidity based on inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 278 children (aged 5-7 years), including habitual snorers and non-snorers.
- Conducted polysomnography, neurocognitive testing, and hsCRP blood tests.
- Categorized snoring children into OSA and non-OSA groups, and OSA children by cognitive status.
Main Results:
- Mean hsCRP was higher in children with OSA (0.36+/-0.11 mg/dl) compared to non-OSA snorers (0.19+/-0.07 mg/dl).
- Children with OSA and cognitive deficits had significantly higher hsCRP levels (0.48+/-0.12 mg/dl) than those with OSA and normal cognition (0.21+/-0.08 mg/dl).
Conclusions:
- Higher hsCRP levels are observed in children with OSA, especially those with neurocognitive deficits.
- The extent of inflammatory response in OSA appears to be a key factor in the risk of neurocognitive dysfunction.
Rationale:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is associated with substantial neurobehavioral and cognitive dysfunction. However, not all children with OSA exhibit altered cognitive performance.
Objectives:
To assess the magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response, as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serum levels which may identify children with OSA at higher susceptibility for cognitive morbidity.
Methods:
Habitually snoring children and nonsnoring children (total, 278; age range, 5-7 yr) were recruited from the community, and underwent overnight polysomnography and neurocognitive testing and a blood draw the next morning. Snoring children were divided into OSA and no-OSA groups, and children with OSA were further subdivided into those with two or more abnormal cognitive subtests and into those with normal cognitive scores. Serum levels of hsCRP were also measured.
Measurements And Main Results:
Among snoring children without OSA, mean hsCRP was 0.19+/-0.07 mg/dl compared with 0.36+/-0.11 mg/dl in those with OSA (p<0.01). Furthermore, hsCRP was 0.48+/-0.12 mg/dl in children with OSA and cognitive deficits, compared with 0.21+/-0.08 mg/dl in children with OSA and normal cognitive scores (p<0.002).
Conclusions:
hsCRP levels are higher in children with OSA, and particularly in those who develop neurocognitive deficits, suggesting that the magnitude of the inflammatory responses elicited by OSA is a major determinant of increased risk for neurocognitive dysfunction.
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