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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

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Preserved Sleep for the Same Level of Respiratory Disturbance in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Qiming Tan1,2, Xiao Tian Tim He1, Sabrina Kang1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|September 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) exhibit better sleep continuity but lower oxygen saturation. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment did not alter respiratory parameters in PWS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder affecting multiple systems.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity in PWS.
  • Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is a key treatment for PWS, but its impact on sleep is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare polysomnography (PSG) findings in children with and without PWS.
  • To evaluate the effect of rhGH treatment on respiratory parameters in children with PWS.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, single-center study comparing PSG data.
  • Analysis of children with PWS (n=29) versus matched controls (n=87).
  • Assessment of respiratory parameters before and after rhGH initiation in a subset of PWS patients (n=11).

Main Results:

  • Children with PWS showed improved sleep continuity (longer total sleep time, higher sleep efficiency, fewer arousals) compared to controls.
  • Lower mean oxygen saturation was observed in PWS children.
  • No significant changes in polysomnography parameters were detected after rhGH treatment in PWS patients.

Conclusions:

  • Children with PWS have distinct sleep patterns, including better sleep continuity and lower oxygen saturation.
  • rhGH treatment in PWS does not appear to negatively impact respiratory parameters or worsen OSA.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between PWS, sleep, and growth hormone therapy.

Keywords:
before-after comparisongrowth hormoneobstructive sleep apneapolysomnographysleep-related breathing disorders

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