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Apnea-hypopnea indices and snoring in children diagnosed with ADHD: a matched case-control study

Barbara C Galland1, E Gail Tripp, Andrew Gray

  • 1Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. barbara.galland@otago.ac.nz

Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung
|May 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Methylphenidate medication also did not affect breathing patterns in children with ADHD.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including obstructive sleep apnea, can affect children's behavior and cognition.
  • The potential association between ADHD and SDB requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare apnea-hypopnea indices and snoring in children with ADHD versus controls.
  • To assess the effect of methylphenidate on breathing variables in children with ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 28 children diagnosed with ADHD and matched controls (aged 6-12 years).
  • Two nights of polysomnography (PSG) to record breathing and snoring.
  • ADHD children followed a 48-hour on-off methylphenidate protocol; controls did not receive medication.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in the presence of an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >1 or snoring between ADHD and control groups.
  • Children with ADHD had significantly shorter total sleep time on medication nights.
  • Methylphenidate did not impact central apneas, AHI, desaturation events, or snoring.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no strong association between ADHD and SDB in this cohort.
  • A small sample size may limit the generalizability of findings.
  • Methylphenidate does not appear to influence breathing variables related to SDB in children with ADHD.
Abstract

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