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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Otolaryngology
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1421467

Clinical Predictors of Moderate-to-Severe Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Provisionally accepted
Kantarakorn Unchiti Kantarakorn Unchiti Artid Samerchua Artid Samerchua *Tanyong Pipanmekaporn Tanyong Pipanmekaporn Prangmalee Leurcharusmee Prangmalee Leurcharusmee Nuntigar Sonsuwan Nuntigar Sonsuwan Phichayut Phinyo Phichayut Phinyo
  • Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Children with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) require specific management. However, the risk factors associated with this level of severity in pediatric OSA remain poorly defined. This study aimed to identify clinical predictors of moderate-to-severe pediatric OSA. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled children aged 1 to 18 years who underwent respiratory polygraphy or nocturnal oximetry between January 2013 and December 2017. Patient history, demographics, and sleep study data were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess risk factors associated with moderate-to-severe pediatric OSA. The STROBE checklist was followed in reporting this research. Results: Among 818 children with a median age of 5 years (IQR: 3, 9), 69.4% were male, and 96.7% were diagnosed with OSA. Of those diagnosed, 542 (66.3%) had moderate-to-severe cases. Independent predictors of moderate-to-severe OSA, with their adjusted odds ratios (95% CI), included: age 1-5 years; 6.16 (3.98 to 9.53), obesity; 2.08 (1.35 to 3.19), adenotonsillar hypertrophy; 1.58 (1.05 to 2.36), frequent snoring (>5 nights/week); 6.86 (4.40 to 10.67), stopped breathing during sleep; 2.34 (1.50 to 3.63), awakening during sleep; 2.04 (1.32 to 3.12), and excessive daytime somnolence; 2.10 (1.28 to 3.43). Conclusion: Children referred to a sleep center demonstrated an increased risk of being diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA. Key clinical predictors of moderate-to-severe OSA included age 1-5 years, frequent snoring, episodes of stopped breathing or awakening during sleep, excessive daytime somnolence, obesity, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Prioritizing early sleep investigations and appropriate management for children exhibiting these predictors may enhance clinical outcomes and mitigate the risk of long-term complications.

    Keywords: pediatric, obstructive sleep apnea, Obstructive sleep disordered breathing, risk factor, Predictor ADHD: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, AHI: apnea hypopnea index, BMI: Body Mass Index, CI: confidence intervals

    Received: 22 Apr 2024; Accepted: 14 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Unchiti, Samerchua, Pipanmekaporn, Leurcharusmee, Sonsuwan and Phinyo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Artid Samerchua, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.