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Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children: a tale of inflammatory cascades

Rakesh Bhattacharjee1, Jinkwan Kim, Leila Kheirandish-Gozal

  • 1Division of Sleep and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|October 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) significantly increase systemic inflammation. These conditions may interact, amplifying each other

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, increasing risks for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
  • Obesity-related morbidities involve multifactorial inflammatory pathways leading to end-organ injury.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) prevalence increases with childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of childhood obesity and OSAS on systemic inflammation.
  • To examine evidence on the up-regulation of inflammatory mediators in these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on the interplay between obesity, OSAS, and inflammation in children.
  • Analysis of current evidence regarding specific inflammatory mediator up-regulation.

Main Results:

  • Obesity and OSAS share similar inflammatory mechanisms.
  • These conditions may synergistically amplify each other's adverse effects and inflammatory burden.
  • Evidence points to the up-regulation of specific inflammatory mediators in both obesity and OSAS.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity and OSAS in children can significantly contribute to systemic inflammation.
  • The combined effect of obesity and OSAS may exacerbate inflammatory responses and related health complications.
  • Further research into these inflammatory pathways is crucial for understanding and managing these conditions.

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