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Prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Cleft-Affected Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Tassneem Elagib1, Yi Fan1, Marie A Cornelis1
1Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Insights
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) affects 16% of children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Syndromic CL/P cases show higher SDB prevalence, underscoring the need for targeted screening and further research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
- Craniofacial Anomalies
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a significant concern in pediatric populations.
- Children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) may have an increased risk of SDB due to anatomical factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of SDB in children with CL/P.
- To identify associated risk factors for SDB in this population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, etc.) up to April 2025.
- Seven observational studies involving 1567 children with CL/P were included in the meta-analysis.
- Validated sleep questionnaires were primarily used, with polysomnography (PSG) in two studies.
Main Results:
- The overall estimated prevalence of SDB in children with CL/P was 16% (95% CI: 12-21%).
- Prevalence was significantly higher in syndromic CL/P (32%) compared to nonsyndromic cases (8.8-18%).
- Over 75% of children who screened positive for SDB were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea via PSG.
Conclusions:
- Sleep-disordered breathing is common in children with CL/P, especially those with syndromic conditions.
- Current evidence highlights a need for standardized SDB assessment and further research in this vulnerable group.
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) using validated sleep questionnaires and, where available, sleep studies.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024593761).SettingA comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, EBM Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to April 2025.ParticipantsSeven observational studies were included, involving 1567 syndromic or nonsyndromic children with CL/P. The weighted mean age was 9.0 ± 1.64 years (range: 2-18 years).InterventionsNo clinical interventions were undertaken. SDB was evaluated using validated sleep questionnaires; with polysomnography (PSG) included in 2 studies.Main Outcome Measure(s)Prevalence of SDB in children with CL/P and associated risk factors, including cleft type and gender.ResultsOf 546 retrieved articles, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria. All used the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, although different cutoff values were applied. Meta-analysis estimated an overall SDB prevalence of 16% (95% CI: 12-21%) with no significant gender differences. The highest prevalence was observed in syndromic CL/P (32%), while the estimate was lower in nonsyndromic cases (8.8-18%). In studies that included PSG, over 75% of children who screened positive were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.ConclusionSDB was common in children with CL/P, particularly in syndromic populations. The limited number of available studies highlighted the need for further research incorporating standardized severity measures.
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