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Sleep disordered breathing in children in a general population sample: prevalence and risk factors

Edward O Bixler1, Alexandros N Vgontzas, Hung-Mo Lin

  • 1Sleep Research & Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. ebixler@hmc.psu.edu

Sleep
|June 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) affects 1.2% of elementary school children. Key risk factors include obesity, nasal issues, and minority status, highlighting the role of metabolic factors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Health in Children
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a growing concern in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding the prevalence and risk factors in children is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of SDB in elementary school children using clinically meaningful criteria.
  • To identify independent risk factors associated with SDB in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • A two-phased strategy was employed, starting with parental questionnaires for a large sample (N=5,740).
  • A subset of children (N=700) underwent overnight polysomnography in a university sleep laboratory.
  • Comprehensive assessments included polysomnography, physical examinations, and specialized evaluations.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of moderate SDB (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5) was found to be 1.2%.
  • Independent risk factors identified included nasal abnormalities, minority status, snoring, and increased waist circumference.
  • Tonsil size was not found to be an independent risk factor for SDB.

Conclusions:

  • A 1.2% prevalence of significant SDB was observed in the studied elementary school population.
  • Waist circumference, nasal abnormalities, and minority status emerged as significant risk factors.
  • The strong correlation between waist circumference, BMI, and SDB severity suggests metabolic factors are critical in pediatric SDB.
Abstract

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