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Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Reduced flow-mediated vasodilation of brachial artery in children with primary snoring

Albert M Li1, Chun T Au, P Chook

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. albertmli@cuhk.edu.hk

International Journal of Cardiology
|June 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Primary snoring (PS) in children is linked to reduced flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), a marker of endothelial dysfunction. This association persists even in normal weight children, independent of obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Sleep disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea, is known to cause endothelial dysfunction in children and adults.
  • The impact of primary snoring (PS) on endothelial function remains understudied.
  • Endothelial dysfunction is a critical early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between primary snoring (PS) and endothelial function in children.
  • To evaluate flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in normal weight and overweight children with PS.
  • To determine if PS independently affects FMD, irrespective of obesity or obstructive sleep apnea.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited children aged 6-18 years with habitual snoring and non-snoring controls.
  • Conducted polysomnography and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) assessments on all participants.
  • Categorized subjects into normal weight, overweight, non-snorers, and primary snoring (PS) groups for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • A total of 201 children were studied, with 73 diagnosed with PS. Both normal weight and overweight children with PS exhibited significantly reduced FMD compared to non-snoring controls (p<0.05).
  • Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that PS was an independent predictor of reduced FMD in both normal weight and overweight children.
  • These findings held true even after accounting for the apnea-hypopnea index, suggesting a direct effect of PS.

Conclusions:

  • Primary snoring (PS) in children is associated with impaired endothelial function, indicated by reduced FMD.
  • This association is independent of body weight status (obesity).
  • PS may represent a significant risk factor for early cardiovascular changes in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenEndothelial functionFlow-mediated vasodilationObesityPrimary snoring

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