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Published on: December 6, 2016
Severe obesity is a risk factor for severe obstructive sleep apnea in obese children
Kanokporn Udomittipong1, Nitipatana Chierakul, Pimon Ruttanaumpawan
1Siriraj Sleep Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University Bangkok, Thailand. sikui@mahidol.ac.th
Insights
Severe obesity in children significantly predicts severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Early recognition of severe OSA in obese children with snoring is crucial due to potential health complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a growing concern in pediatric populations worldwide.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity associated with obesity in children.
- Understanding the relationship between obesity severity and OSA severity is vital for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the degree of obesity and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Thai children.
- To identify obesity as a risk factor for severe OSA in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 73 obese children (aged 3-15 years) who underwent polysomnography (PSG).
- Obesity classified by percentage of ideal weight for height (%W/H): mild (120-139), moderate (140-159), severe (160-199), and morbid (≥200).
- OSA classified by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): severe (AHI ≥10) and non-severe (AHI <10).
Main Results:
- The severe OSA group showed a significantly greater %W/H (171.38%) compared to the non-severe OSA group (157.19%).
- Severe to morbid obesity (OR 2.80) and enlarged tonsils (OR 3.28) were identified as significant risk factors for severe OSA.
- No significant differences were found in gender, age, height, weight, or BMI between severe and non-severe OSA groups.
Conclusions:
- Severe to morbid obesity is a significant predicting factor for severe obstructive sleep apnea in children.
- Severely obese children presenting with snoring require early screening for severe OSA.
- Prompt diagnosis and management of severe OSA in obese children are essential to prevent associated health sequelae.
Objective:
To determine the association between degree of obesity and severity of OSA in Thai children
Material And Method:
The present retrospective study recruited obese children aged 3 to 15 years who had habitual snoring and underwent polysomnography (PSG) between January 2009 and June 2010. Obesity was defined as percentage of ideal weight for height (%W/H) > or = 120 and was classified as mild (%W/H of 120-139), moderate (140-159), severe (160-199) and morbid (> or = 200). OSA was classified as severe (AHI > or = 10) and non-severe (AHI < 10).
Results:
Of 73 obese children, the mean age was 9.92 +/- 3.42 years of which 60.3% were boys. The mean +/- SD of BMI was 28.38 +/- 5.99 kg/m2 and %W/H +/- SD was 162.63 +/- 26 26. Gender age, height, weight and BMI were not significantly different between severe and non-severe OSA groups. However, the %W/H of the severe OSA group (171.38% +/- 29.54%) was significantly greater than the non-severe group (157.19% +/- 22.68%) (p = 0.02). Severe to morbid obesity (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.06-7.42; p = 0.038) and enlarged tonsils at least 3+ (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.22-8.81; p = 0.018) were the risk factors for severe OSA.
Conclusion:
Severe to morbid obesity was a predicting factor for severe OSA. These results suggested that severely obese children with snoring should have early recognition for severe OSA, which is highly contributing to multiple sequalae.
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