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The effect of seasonality on sleep-disordered breathing severity in children

Michal Greenfeld1, Yakov Sivan, Riva Tauman

  • 1Pediatric Sleep Center, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Sleep Medicine
|July 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity varies seasonally, being worse in winter, especially for children under five. Asthma and atopy do not influence this pattern, suggesting viral infections are a likely cause.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Health

Background:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a common condition in children, linked to significant health issues.
  • Risk factors for pediatric SDB include atopy, asthma, and viral infections, which show seasonal variations.
  • Understanding seasonal influences on SDB is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of seasonality on the severity of SDB in children and adolescents.
  • To examine how atopy and asthma affect seasonal variations in SDB severity.
  • To identify potential contributing factors to seasonal SDB patterns in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of polysomnography (PSG) records for 2178 children and adolescents diagnosed with suspected SDB between 2008 and 2010.
  • Assessment of seasonal patterns in SDB severity, specifically the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI).
  • Statistical analysis to evaluate the influence of atopy/asthma, age, and obesity on seasonal SDB variability.

Main Results:

  • SDB severity, measured by OAHI, was significantly higher in winter compared to summer (9.1±9.6 vs. 7.5±7.0, P=.01).
  • This seasonal difference was more pronounced in children younger than 5 years (10.2±10.5 vs. 7.9±7.3, P=.008).
  • The presence of asthma or atopy did not significantly affect the observed seasonal variability in SDB severity.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric SDB severity exhibits season-dependent alterations, with increased severity during winter months.
  • Younger children (under 5 years) show a more prominent seasonal effect on SDB severity.
  • Viral respiratory infections are likely the primary driver of seasonal SDB variability in children, independent of asthma or atopy; timing of evaluation may impact borderline cases.
Abstract

Keywords:
AsthmaAtopyChildrenObstructive sleep apneaSeasonalitySleep disordered breathing

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