[Effect of treating obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome on chronic cough in children]

Objective: To understand the effect of treating obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on chronic cough in children. Methods: A total of 100 consecutive children with OSAHS diagnosed by polysomnography(PSG) and chronic cough were included in this study. All children underwent cough condition assessment, OSA-18 scales and MS-IOS before and after surgery, and all children were followed-up for 3 months. Children were separated into three groups according to the severity of OSAHS. Related parameters like Zr, Rf, R5, R20, X5, X35, Rc, Rp obtained from MS-IOS, OSA-18 scores and cough scores were compared between different groups using paired t-test or Wilcoxon sum test. Results: There existed significantly positive correlations between AHI and scores of OSA-18(r=0.653, P<0.01). AHI positively related to cough scores including diurnal(r=0.470, P<0.01)and nocturnal cough scores(r=0.459, P<0.01). Scores of OSA-18 had similarity in correlations with diurnal(r=0.527, P<0.01)and nocturnal cough scores(r=0.532, P<0.01). All children got improved in OSA-18 scales and cough scores after treatment. In details, the three groups were mild group(n=34), moderate group(n=37), severe group(n=29). OSA-18 scales decreased dramatically in each group after surgery, Z values were -5.014, -5.035, -4.624 respectively(P=0.000). Cough scores in day and night got reduced after treatment, Z values were -5.112, -5.102, -5.394, -5.374, -4.777, -4.770 in three groups. Rp in all children got alleviated after surgical management, Z were -3.150, -5.035, -5.374(P=0.000). Other parameters were analyzed using paired t test. Z5, R5, R20, R35 got reduced in all three groups.X5 got reduced in mild and moderate groups. Rc reduced only in the moderate group. Conclusions: OSAHS may be a trigger or inducer of chronic cough. Active treatment of OSAHS via surgery can improve the quality of children's life and alleviate the symptoms of cough in day and night.