Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children with Recurrent Wheeze/Asthma: A Single Centre Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Sleep Medicine
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• The relationship between asthma and sleep-disordered breathing is bidirectional, influenced by shared risk factors promoting airway inflammation.
• Recurrent wheeze/asthma and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing involve the lower and upper respiratory systems, respectively.
• Investigating sleep-disordered breathing in children with recurrent wheeze/asthma is crucial for understanding this complex interplay.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing in children diagnosed with recurrent wheeze/asthma.
• To compare sleep parameters between children with and without recurrent wheeze/asthma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 137 children over 2 years old who underwent in-laboratory overnight polygraphy.
• Children were categorized based on the presence or absence of recurrent wheeze/asthma.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of wheeze/asthma, including demographic and polysomnographic data.

Main Results:

• Children with recurrent wheeze/asthma (N=28) were younger and leaner compared to unaffected children (N=98).
• No significant differences were found in obstructive apnea-hypopnea index or oxygen desaturation index between groups.
• Logistic regression revealed a significantly higher central apnea index in children with wheeze/asthma (Exp(B)=2.212, p=0.009).

Conclusions:

• Children with recurrent wheeze/asthma exhibit an increased number of central sleep apneas compared to their unaffected peers.
• This finding suggests a potential dysfunction in central nervous system breathing control during sleep in these children.
• Systemic or central inflammation may underlie the observed link between recurrent wheeze/asthma and central sleep apneas.