BACKGROUND: The correlation between obesity and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well established in adults, but data are inconsistent in children. We hypothesized that there is a significant correlation between the degree of obesity and the severity of OSA in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of weight, height, history, and polysomnography of all 1- to 15- year-old children referred to our sleep laboratory. Children with known anomalies and repeated polysomnography were excluded from this study. Obesity was defined as body mass index z score (BMI Z score) > 1.96. The correlation between BMI Z score and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was assessed. Possible confounding factors, ie, age, gender, and tonsil size, were adjusted by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-two children were included in this study. Obese children had a significantly higher AHI (median, 1.5; interquartile range [IQR], 0.2 to 7.0) than the AHI of nonobese children (median, 0.7; IQR, 0.0 to 2.5). BMI Z score was significantly correlated with log-transformed AHI (Ln[AHI]) [r = 0.156, p = 0.003]. BMI Z score and tonsil size were still correlated with Ln(AHI) even after adjusted for other confounding factors (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Degree of obesity as measured by BMI Z score and tonsil size are significantly related to severity of OSA as reflected by the AHI, although the correlation is mild.
BACKGROUND: The correlation between obesity and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well established in adults, but data are inconsistent in children. We hypothesized that there is a significant correlation between the degree of obesity and the severity of OSA in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of weight, height, history, and polysomnography of all 1- to 15- year-old children referred to our sleep laboratory. Children with known anomalies and repeated polysomnography were excluded from this study. Obesity was defined as body mass index z score (BMI Z score) > 1.96. The correlation between BMI Z score and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was assessed. Possible confounding factors, ie, age, gender, and tonsil size, were adjusted by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-two children were included in this study. Obese children had a significantly higher AHI (median, 1.5; interquartile range [IQR], 0.2 to 7.0) than the AHI of nonobese children (median, 0.7; IQR, 0.0 to 2.5). BMI Z score was significantly correlated with log-transformed AHI (Ln[AHI]) [r = 0.156, p = 0.003]. BMI Z score and tonsil size were still correlated with Ln(AHI) even after adjusted for other confounding factors (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Degree of obesity as measured by BMI Z score and tonsil size are significantly related to severity of OSA as reflected by the AHI, although the correlation is mild.
Authors: V Tsara; A Amfilochiou; J M Papagrigorakis; D Georgopoulos; E Liolios; A Kadiths; E Koudoumnakis; E Aulonitou; M Emporiadou; M Tsakanikos; A Chatzis; M Choulakis; G Chrousos Journal: Hippokratia Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 0.471
Authors: Jingtao Huang; Swaroop J Pinto; Haibo Yuan; Eliot S Katz; Laurie R Karamessinis; Ruth M Bradford; Paul R Gallagher; James T Hannigan; Thomas Nixon; Michelle B Ward; Yin N Lee; Carole L Marcus Journal: Sleep Date: 2012-10-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: Merrill S Wise; Cynthia D Nichols; Madeleine M Grigg-Damberger; Carole L Marcus; Manisha B Witmans; Valerie G Kirk; Lynn A D'Andrea; Timothy F Hoban Journal: Sleep Date: 2011-03-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: R Nisha Aurora; Rochelle S Zak; Anoop Karippot; Carin I Lamm; Timothy I Morgenthaler; Sanford H Auerbach; Sabin R Bista; Kenneth R Casey; Susmita Chowdhuri; David A Kristo; Kannan Ramar Journal: Sleep Date: 2011-03-01 Impact factor: 5.849