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Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Children
Published on: April 29, 2013
Thoracoabdominal Asynchrony in Healthy Children
Kristjan Dereksson1,2, Sigrun Helga Lund3, Agneta Markström4
1Pediatrics, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Journal of Sleep Research
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Thoracoabdominal asynchrony (TAA) measurement can help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. Healthy children spend less than 10% of sleep time with elevated TAA, while OSA patients exceed this threshold.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Thoracoabdominal asynchrony (TAA) reflects inspiratory effort and upper airway obstruction during sleep in children.
- Accurate diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a normative range for TAA in healthy children aged 10-13 years.
- To assess the correlation between TAA and OSA severity, sleep parameters, and patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnography data from 113 children (10-13 years) were analyzed.
- Percentage of total sleep time (TST) with elevated TAA (>40°) was measured.
- Obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI), sleep position, sleep stage, and snoring were recorded.
Main Results:
- Healthy children (N=94) had elevated TAA for 3.3% of TST; OSA patients (N=19) had elevated TAA for 10.7% of TST (p < 0.00001).
- A cut-off of 9.6% (rounded to 10%) of TST for elevated TAA was established as normal.
- Elevated TAA was more prevalent during REM sleep, supine position, and associated with increased snoring and obesity.
Conclusions:
- TAA assessment using RIP-bands can aid in interpreting pediatric sleep studies.
- A normative TAA range of <10% TST may help differentiate healthy children from those with OSA.
- Further research could integrate TAA into clinical decision-making for pediatric sleep disorders.
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