Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Which obese children should have a sleep study?

S A McKenzie1, A Bhattacharya, R Sureshkumar

  • 12nd floor, Fielden House, Royal London Hospital, Barts and the London NHS Trust, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK. s.a.mckenzie@awell.co.uk

Respiratory Medicine
|July 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Identifying obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in obese children is crucial. Clinical features like reported apnoea, restless sleep, or tonsillar hypertrophy can effectively identify most children needing sleep studies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, prompting UK government recommendations for specialized services.
  • The prevalence of obesity presents challenges for widespread screening of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
  • Limited availability of pediatric sleep services necessitates efficient diagnostic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of clinical features for significant OSA in obese children.
  • To aid in prioritizing children for sleep studies and treatment.
  • To develop a more targeted approach to diagnosing OSA in pediatric obesity.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of obese children (BMI >2.5 z scores) aged 2-16 years underwent sleep studies.
  • Sleep studies included overnight oximetry and audiovisual recordings.
  • Significant OSA was defined by oxygen desaturation events or respiratory-event related arousals.

Main Results:

  • 26% of the 158 children studied had significant OSA.
  • 95% of children with OSA presented with reported apnoea, restless sleep, or tonsillar hypertrophy.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) z scores did not correlate with OSA severity.

Conclusions:

  • Screening obese children with reported apnoea, restless sleep, or tonsillar hypertrophy identifies 95% of those with significant OSA.
  • This targeted approach can optimize the use of sleep study resources.
  • Clinical assessment can effectively guide the need for further OSA investigation in obese children.
Abstract

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