Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 3, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.3K

Findings of routine nocturnal polysomnography in children with Down syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Manju S Hurvitz1, Daniel J Lesser1, Gretchen Dever1

  • 1Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, USA.

Sleep Medicine
|October 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Polysomnography (PSG) is feasible and effective for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with Down syndrome (DS). Follow-up PSG confirms treatment efficacy for OSA in DS patients, guiding clinical decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • Diagnosing OSA in DS using polysomnography (PSG) presents challenges, and treatment efficacy is not well-established.
  • Assessing the practicality and effectiveness of PSG for OSA diagnosis and treatment monitoring in DS is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the feasibility of performing PSG in children with DS.
  • To determine the efficacy of OSA treatments, such as adenotonsillectomy (AT) and positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, in DS patients.
  • To assess the utility of follow-up PSG in monitoring treatment response.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of patients under 21 with DS who underwent PSG between October 2016 and June 2019.
  • PSG success was defined by total sleep time (TST).
  • Post-treatment PSG data after AT or PAP therapy were compared to pre-treatment PSG findings.

Main Results:

  • Out of 248 DS patients, PSG was unsuccessful in only 4.4% (TST < 1 hour).
  • Following AT, 27% of patients achieved OSA cure (obstructive apnea hypopnea index [OAHI] < 2), with significant improvements in sleep efficiency (SE) and OAHI.
  • PAP titration was tolerated by 83% of patients, leading to improved OAHI, though SE did not significantly improve.

Conclusions:

  • PSG is a feasible and well-tolerated diagnostic tool for OSA in children with DS.
  • Post-treatment PSG effectively confirms the efficacy of AT and PAP therapies for OSA in DS.
  • PSG plays a vital role in guiding treatment decisions for OSA in children with DS.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdenotonsillectomyDown syndromeObstructive sleep apneaPediatricsPolysomnographyPositive airway pressure

More Related Videos

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults07:40

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Published on: January 26, 2019

8.0K
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

313

Related Concept Videos

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...
964
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...
294
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
304
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.
341