Sleeping too close together: obesity and obstructive sleep apnea in childhood and adolescence

To review the current available literature exploring the prevalence, severity, consequences and treatments for obesity related OSA in children and adolescents. The published literature was searched through EMBASE and Pubmed using a pre-defined search strategy. There is evidence showing that OSA occurs more frequently and may be more severe in children and adolescents who are overweight or obese compared with lean children. Obesity and OSA are independently associated with adverse cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuropsychological consequences. The magnitude of these abnormalities when obesity and OSA co-exist is not well established. Treatment options for obesity related OSA includes adenotonsillectomy, but it does not cure OSA in over 50% of obese children. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy delivered through continuous or bi-level modes is successful, but limited by generally poor compliance. There is increasing experience with bariatric surgical techniques which are effective for the treatment of obesity and its related complications. As obesity related OSA is highly prevalent, more research is needed to understand the interaction of these two conditions with regards to pathophysiology, adverse consequences and optimal management strategies.