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Impact of Gender, Age, and Obesity on Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Cross-Sectional Study of 4,668 Children

Guimin Huang1, Qian Wang2,3, Li Chang4

  • 1Child Health Big Data Research Center, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Nature and Science of Sleep
|June 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more severe in boys, particularly those aged 0-2 years. Obesity also significantly worsens OSA severity in children, highlighting key factors for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Disorders in Children
  • Public Health and Epidemiology

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent pediatric condition with serious health implications.
  • The influence of demographic factors like gender, age, and obesity on pediatric OSA severity is not well-established.
  • Understanding these influences is crucial for effective screening and management of childhood OSA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of gender, age, and obesity on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in pediatric patients.
  • To identify specific demographic and clinical factors associated with increased OSA severity in children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 4668 children (aged 0-15 years) diagnosed with OSA via polysomnography (PSG).
  • Data collected included gender, age, body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and oxygen desaturation index (ODI).
  • Statistical analyses included ANOVA, chi-square tests, linear trend analysis, and logistic regression to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Male gender, younger age (0-2 years), and obesity were significantly associated with moderate to severe OSA.
  • Boys exhibited higher AHI (8.8 ± 7.9) compared to girls.
  • The 0-2 years age group (AHI: 10.7 ± 9.8) and the obese group (AHI: 13.9 ± 19.8) showed the highest AHI values.

Conclusions:

  • Gender, age, and obesity are significant determinants of pediatric OSA severity.
  • Male sex and younger age (0-2 years) are linked to more severe OSA.
  • Obesity exacerbates OSA severity in children, emphasizing the need for integrated management strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
agegenderobesitypediatric obstructive sleep apneaseverity

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