Obesity and risk of sleep related upper airway obstruction in Caucasian children

Obesity is thought to be a significant risk factor for upper airway obstruction during sleep in children. However, the moderating influences of age and ethnicity have not been well explored and the relative contribution of obesity per se to upper airway obstruction has yet to be quantified. Given the markedly increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, an objective understanding of the impact of obesity on upper airway obstruction is important. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interaction between obesity, age and upper airway obstruction in Australian Caucasian children referred for evaluation of snoring.

This was a retrospective case study involving 190 children (4-12 y) who were referred for evaluation of upper airway obstruction and underwent one night of polysomnography at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Sleep Disorders Unit. Children were classified as Infrequent Snorers (n = 80), Habitual Snorers (n = 68) or Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) (n = 42) (i.e., obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) > or = 1).

Thirty-five percent (66/190) of children were overweight or obese. Body mass index but not age was a significant but weak predictor of OAHI (< 5% of the variance).

In Australian Caucasian children aged 4-12 years who snore, obesity but not age was a significant, albeit weak, predictor of upper airway obstruction during sleep.