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Body mass index as an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea in pediatric Down syndrome

Courtney B Shires1, Sandra L Anold, Robert A Schoumacher

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. cshires@uthsc.edu

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|May 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with Down syndrome (DS). This association suggests BMI is a significant factor in OSA development in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Down syndrome (DS) is associated with a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • The role of body mass index (BMI) in the development of OSA in pediatric DS patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 63 pediatric Down syndrome patients evaluated with polysomnography.
  • Patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of OSA, with BMI calculated as a Z-score.
  • Age and sex matching were performed, excluding patients under 2 years old.

Main Results:

  • Analysis included 52 Down syndrome patients (33 with OSA, 19 without).
  • The mean BMI Z-score was significantly higher in patients with OSA (2.09) compared to those without (1.40) (p=0.03).
  • A statistically significant association was found between higher BMI Z-scores and the presence of OSA.

Conclusions:

  • Adjusted for age and sex, increased BMI is significantly associated with the presence of OSA in pediatric Down syndrome patients.
  • The incidence of OSA also demonstrates an increasing trend with advancing age in this population.
Abstract

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