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Seasonal variation in a clinical referral pediatric cohort at risk for obstructive sleep apnea

Meiho Nakayama1, Shigefumi Koike, Shinichi Kuriyama

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan. nakayama@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|December 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) show seasonal variations in severity, with improved breathing during summer, particularly in younger children. These findings suggest a need for seasonal adjustments in diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in children.
  • Seasonal variations in disease severity are observed in various pediatric conditions.
  • The impact of seasonality on pediatric OSA severity is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate seasonal variability in polysomnographic findings for children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • To determine if age influences seasonal patterns in pediatric OSA severity.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 554 children referred for OSA evaluation underwent full-night polysomnography (PSG).
  • Monthly fluctuation patterns in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) were analyzed in two age groups: <6 and ≥6 years.
  • Statistical analysis assessed seasonal differences in PSG measures.

Main Results:

  • The youngest children (<6 years) had the lowest apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in August, while older children (≥6 years) had the lowest AHI in December.
  • The highest AHI occurred in January for the older group and March for the younger group.
  • A general trend towards improved AHI was observed during summer months, especially in younger children.

Conclusions:

  • Clinically significant OSA in children exhibits seasonal variations that differ by age.
  • Summer months appear to be associated with reduced OSA severity, particularly in younger children.
  • Further research is needed to develop seasonal correction factors for PSG interpretation in pediatric OSA evaluations.
Abstract

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