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Central Sleep Apnea in Children-10 Years Experience at a Tertiary Sleep Laboratory
Cansu Yılmaz Yeğit1, Mine Kalyoncu1, Mürüvvet Yanaz1
1Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye.
Insights
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is rare in children but can cause significant illness. This study describes the clinical features of pediatric CSA, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and sleep studies for children with underlying conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) is uncommon in children but associated with significant morbidity.
- Early diagnosis of pediatric CSA is crucial to prevent long-term health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance understanding of CSA in children by detailing clinical characteristics.
- To describe the patient population diagnosed with CSA at a tertiary sleep center.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 1263 polysomnographies (PSGs) from 2012-2023.
- Evaluation of clinical data, underlying diseases, symptoms, sleep parameters, and management for CSA patients.
- Analysis of patients aged 1 month to 18 years.
Main Results:
- CSA was diagnosed in 122 (9.65%) of 1263 pediatric patients.
- The majority of CSA cases (84.4%) were diagnosed with co-existing obstructive sleep apnea.
- Genetic disorders (Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome) and neurological diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric CSA, though rare, is more prevalent in children with underlying medical conditions.
- Increased awareness and prompt sleep study referrals are essential for managing pediatric CSA and avoiding sequelae.
Objective:
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a rare condition in children; however, it can cause significant morbidity if not diagnosed early. We aimed to increase the knowledge about CSA in children by describing the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with CSA at our sleep center.
Material And Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed 1263 polysomnographies (PSG) performed between 2012 and 2023 at our tertiary sleep center and evaluated the clinical characteristics of the patients with CSA. Underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, sleep parameters, and short-term management of the patients were recorded.
Results:
Of the 1263 patients aged between 1 month and 18 years, 122 (9.65%) had CSA, with 54.9 % (n = 67) of them being female. Only 56.6% (n = 69) of the patients' parents had reported a symptom indicating sleep-disordered breathing. The most common underlying disease was genetic, including Down and Prader-Willi syndromes, followed by neurological diseases . Obstructive sleep apnea was detected in addition to CSA in 103 of the patients (84.4%). Bi-level positive airway pressure with a backup rate was the most common treatment modality.
Conclusion:
While CSA is a rare clinical condition in children, it occurs more commonly in those with an underlying disease. Awareness of the disease and timely referral of the patients for sleep studies are critical to prevent long-term sequelae.
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