A controlled study of sleep related disordered breathing in obese children. Issue 12 (11th December 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wing, Y K; Hui, S H; Pak, W M; Ho, C K; Cheung, A; Li, A M; Fok, T F
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 88:Issue 12(2003)
• Page Start: 1043
• Page End: 1047
• Publication Date: 2003-12-11
• Subjects: childhood -- sleep related disordered breathing -- obesity -- pharyngeal lymphoid tissues; AI, apnoea index -- BMI, body mass index -- CA, central apnoea -- ECG, electrocardiogram -- EEG, electroencephalogram -- EMG, electromyogram -- EOG, electro-oculogram -- ETCO2, end tidal CO2 -- IBW, ideal weight for height -- MSLT, multiple sleep latency test -- OA, obstructive apnoea -- OAI, obstructive apnoea index -- ODI, oxygen desaturation index -- PSG, polysomnographic studies -- RDI, respiratory disturbance index -- SDB, sleep disordered breathing; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.88.12.1043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Unlike the adult sleep related disordered breathing (SDB) patients who are typically obese, the relation between obesity and childhood SDB is not clear. Aims: To investigate whether obese children are more at risk of obstructive SDB when compared to normal population, and whether this risk is potentiated by the presence of pharyngeal lymphoid tissue. Methods: Forty six obese children (age 10.8 (SD 2.3) years; BMI 27.4 (SD 5.1)), and 44 sex and age matched normal weight children (age 11.7 (SD 2.1) years; BMI 18 (SD 1.8)) were studied. All children underwent a set of physical examinations (including the upper airways) and sleep studies. Results: The obese children were different from the normal weight children in terms of type (predominantly obstructive), frequency, and severity of respiratory disturbances. Depending on the criteria used, 26% or 32.6% of obese children had SDB; 2.3% of normal controls had OAI ⩾1 and 4.5% had RDI ⩾5. Presence of SDB was related to presence of tonsils (size >2; range 0–4) (OR 12.67, 95% CI 2.14 to 75.17) and BMI (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.33). Conclusions: Results suggest that obese children are at increased risk of obstructive SDB; the presence of any pharyngeal lymphoid tissue enlargement in obese children should therefore be aggressively managed.