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Prevalence and risk factors of habitual snoring in primary school children

Albert M Li1, Chun T Au, Hung K So

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. albertmli@cuhk.edu.hk

Chest
|February 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Habitual snoring (HS) affects 7.2% of primary school children, increasing risks for behavioral issues and poor school performance. Identifying risk factors like obesity and parental HS is crucial for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Health in Children
  • Childhood Neurobehavioral Outcomes

Background:

  • Habitual snoring (HS) is a common issue in children, potentially linked to various health and behavioral problems.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of HS in pediatric populations is essential for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) in primary school-aged children.
  • To identify risk factors and associated diurnal symptoms and conditions linked to HS in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study utilizing validated parental questionnaires.
  • Data collected from 6,349 Chinese children aged 5-14 years across 13 randomly selected primary schools.
  • Analysis included assessment of sleep behaviors, daytime symptoms, and medical history.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) was found to be 7.2%.
  • Independent risk factors for HS included male sex, higher BMI z-score, parental HS, allergic rhinitis, asthma, nasosinusitis, and tonsillitis.
  • HS was significantly associated with sleep-related breathing symptoms, temper issues, hyperactivity, and poor school performance.

Conclusions:

  • Habitual snoring (HS) is a prevalent issue in primary school children with significant associated risks.
  • Key risk factors include male sex, obesity, parental HS, atopic conditions, and upper respiratory infections.
  • HS is linked to sleep-disordered breathing and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, highlighting the need for clinical attention.
Abstract

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