Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

20.8K

Is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children season dependent?

Zev Frimer1, Shmuel Goldberg1, Leon Joseph1

  • 1Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, School of Medicine, affiliated with The Hebrew University school of medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.

Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung
|May 28, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Seasonal variations do not impact the diagnosis rate of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. Re-testing children for OSA in different seasons is unlikely to change diagnosis outcomes and may delay necessary surgical interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is commonly caused by enlarged tonsils/adenoids.
  • Upper respiratory infections and allergen exposure, which vary seasonally, influence tonsil and adenoid size.
  • Seasonal fluctuations in environmental factors suggest a potential link to OSA diagnosis rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the season of polysomnography testing affects the prevalence of OSA in pediatric patients.
  • To determine if seasonal changes influence the diagnosis rates of obstructive sleep apnea in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of polysomnography (PSG) data from 296 children (ages 0-12) suspected of having OSA.
  • Comparison of the Obstructive Apnea Hypopnea Index (OAHI) across different seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall).
  • Evaluation of seasonal variations in the rates of mild, moderate, and severe OSA diagnoses.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was found in the mean OAHI values among the four seasons.
  • Seasonal analysis revealed no significant variations in the diagnosis rates for moderate or severe OSA.
  • A slight increase in mild OSA diagnoses was observed during the summer months compared to other seasons.

Conclusions:

  • The season in which polysomnography is performed does not appear to influence the diagnosis of significant obstructive sleep apnea in children.
  • Re-evaluating pediatric OSA patients in different seasons is unlikely to yield different diagnostic results.
  • Delaying surgical intervention due to seasonal re-testing is not supported by these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenObstructive sleep apneaPolysomnographySeason

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach04:53

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

1.6K
A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans09:54

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans

Published on: December 22, 2016

9.5K

Related Concept Videos

Sleep Apnea01:21

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
737
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
3.2K
Other Pulmonary Disorders01:17

Other Pulmonary Disorders

Respiratory disorders encompass a range of conditions with varying levels of severity. Asthma, marked by chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity, is one such condition. It can lead to airway obstruction due to factors like bronchial spasms, mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, or epithelial damage. Asthma triggers are diverse, ranging from allergens to emotional upset, and treatment focuses on both immediate relief through bronchodilators and long-term inflammation suppression.
1.9K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
2.4K
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
723
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
754