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Overnight pulse oximetry in snoring and non-snoring children
G O Owen1, R J Canter, A Robinson
1Department of Otolaryngology, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
Insights
Snoring is common in children up to 10 years old, affecting 11% of them. Overnight pulse oximetry shows snoring is not linked to low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Snoring is a common symptom in children.
- The association between pediatric snoring and nocturnal hypoxia requires further investigation.
- Overnight pulse oximetry is a non-invasive tool for assessing oxygen saturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of snoring on overnight pulse oximetry recordings in children.
- To determine if snoring in children is associated with nocturnal hypoxemia.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 222 children up to 10 years of age underwent home overnight pulse oximetry.
- Oximetry recordings were compared between 58 snoring children and 164 non-snoring children.
Main Results:
- No clinically significant difference in oxygen saturation levels was found between snoring and non-snoring children.
- 11% of the children in the study were identified as frequent snorers.
Conclusions:
- Snoring in children up to 10 years of age is common but not associated with hypoxia.
- Surgical intervention solely for the symptom of snoring in children is not indicated based on these findings.
Abstract:
The effect of snoring on overnight pulse oximetry recordings in the paediatric community was investigated. A random sample of 222 children up to 10 years of age from the town of Frome, Somerset, UK, had overnight pulse oximetry performed in the home environment. The oximetry recordings obtained from 58 snoring and 164 non-snoring subjects were compared. No clinically relevant difference in oxygen saturation level could be detected between these two groups of children. In conclusion, snoring in children up to 10 years of age is common, 11% often snore. It is not associated with hypoxia as measured by overnight pulse oximetry. This would suggest that surgical intervention for the symptom of snoring alone is not indicated.