Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Down Syndrome: Screening and Effect of Guidelines. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsieh, Adam; Gilad, Amir; Wong, Kevin; Cohen, Michael; Levi, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 58:Number 9(2019)
• Page Start: 993
• Page End: 999
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: obstructive sleep apnea -- polysomnography -- guidelines -- Down syndrome -- pediatrics; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922819845333
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Previous studies have shown low rates of screening for obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome (DS), a high-prevalence population. Our study investigated the impact of the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, which recommends screening for obstructive sleep apnea with polysomnogram by age 4 years. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients 0 to 18 years of age with DS seen at a medical center between 2006 and 2016. Polysomnogram screening frequency was investigated and compared pre- and post-guideline publication. A total of 136 participants were identified. Thirty-two percent (44/136) of children with DS were referred for polysomnogram, all of whom had symptoms. Although overall referral frequency was unaffected, completion frequency by age 18 years improved after publication (30% [21/69] vs 19% [13/67]; P < .05). Notably, polysomnogram completion frequency by age 4 years improved after guidelines publication compared with prior (25% [17/69] vs 0% [0/67]; P < .0001).