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Childhood sleep apnea and neighborhood disadvantage

Robert T Brouillette1, Linda Horwood, Evelyn Constantin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. robert.brouillette@muhc.mcgill.ca

The Journal of Pediatrics
|December 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Socioeconomic factors, not just individual health, play a role in childhood OSA risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Environmental Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a growing concern in children.
  • Understanding risk factors beyond individual health is crucial for effective prevention and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between neighborhood characteristics and socioeconomic status (SES) as risk factors for childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Main Methods:

  • Observational study comparing census tract data in Montreal, Canada for 436 children (aged 2-8 years) evaluated for OSA.
  • Children with proven OSA (n=300) were compared to those without OSA (n=136).
  • Exclusion criteria included prior adenotonsillectomy and comorbid disorders.

Main Results:

  • Children with OSA resided in neighborhoods with lower median incomes, higher poverty rates, more single-parent families, and greater population density compared to children without OSA.
  • The highest likelihood of OSA, particularly moderate/severe cases, was observed in children from the most disadvantaged areas.
  • These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Disadvantaged neighborhood characteristics are associated with an increased likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea in young children.
  • Findings suggest a link between socioeconomic disparities and childhood OSA.
  • Further research is recommended to validate these findings in diverse settings with significant socioeconomic variations.
Abstract

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