Exploring sleep-related breathing disorders in pediatric obesity and Prader-Willi syndrome

Gintare Oboleviciene1, Laimute Vaideliene2, Valdone Miseviciene2

  • 1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Pediatric Department, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Respiratory Medicine
|November 7, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and obese children both face high risks of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs). Central sleep apnea and hypoventilation are more common in PWS, but obstructive sleep apnea is prevalent in both groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Obesity is a significant risk factor for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) in children.
  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder often associated with obesity and potential sleep disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the clinical and diagnostic features of SRBDs in children with PWS versus obese children without PWS.
  • To understand the role of obesity as a unifying risk factor for sleep apnea in these pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study involving children aged 2 years and above with confirmed PWS or non-PWS obesity.
  • Clinical data and polysomnography (PSG) records were collected and analyzed for 58 eligible children.
  • Comparison of sleep apnea types, sleep efficiency, and fragmentation between the PWS and non-PWS obese groups.

Main Results:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence was high in both groups (97.2% in non-PWS obese, 72.7% in PWS).
  • Central sleep apnea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoventilation were significantly more common in children with PWS (OR 4.35 and 4.66, respectively).
  • PWS patients showed higher sleep efficiency, and sleep fragmentation was linked to higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) only in non-PWS obese children.

Conclusions:

  • Both PWS and non-PWS obese children have a high risk for SRBDs, necessitating polysomnography (PSG) screening.
  • While OSA is common in both, PWS patients exhibit a greater likelihood of CSA and hypoventilation.
  • The risk of SRBDs, particularly during adolescence, underscores the importance of timely diagnosis and management in these pediatric groups.
Abstract

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