Emily F Rudnick1, Ron B Mitchell. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. emilyrudnick@yahoo.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently exhibit behavioral and neurocognitive problems. There is a high prevalence of OSA among obese children. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between OSA and behavioral problems in obese children as compared with normal-weight children (controls). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study of obese and normal-weight children with OSA presenting to a tertiary medical center for adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: All study participants underwent preoperative polysomnography to document OSA. Obesity was defined as age- and sex-adjusted body mass index at the 95th percentile or higher. Behavior was evaluated using the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Preoperatively, the Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), a global measure of behavior, and BASC scores for obese and normal-weight children were compared using an unpaired t test. RESULTS: The study population included 52 children, 18 (35%) of whom were obese. The mean age of obese children was 8.6 (range, 2.0-14.9) years. The mean age of normal-weight children was 6.4 (range, 2.1-12.9) years. Demographics were otherwise similar. The mean apnea-hypopnea index for obese children was 17.2 (5.0-38.0) and for normal-weight children was 15.7 (5.3-88.0). The BSI score was 55.3 (SD, 15.9) for obese and 55.9 (SD, 15.0) for normal-weight children. Seven (38.9%) obese and 12 (35.3%) normal-weight children had clinically significant or abnormal behavior. Similar results were seen for the BASC scales of atypicality, depression, hyperactivity, and somatization in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral problems are highly prevalent in children with OSA. However, these problems exist independently of whether children are obese or normal weight.
OBJECTIVES:Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently exhibit behavioral and neurocognitive problems. There is a high prevalence of OSA among obesechildren. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between OSA and behavioral problems in obesechildren as compared with normal-weight children (controls). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study of obese and normal-weight children with OSA presenting to a tertiary medical center for adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: All study participants underwent preoperative polysomnography to document OSA. Obesity was defined as age- and sex-adjusted body mass index at the 95th percentile or higher. Behavior was evaluated using the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Preoperatively, the Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), a global measure of behavior, and BASC scores for obese and normal-weight children were compared using an unpaired t test. RESULTS: The study population included 52 children, 18 (35%) of whom were obese. The mean age of obesechildren was 8.6 (range, 2.0-14.9) years. The mean age of normal-weight children was 6.4 (range, 2.1-12.9) years. Demographics were otherwise similar. The mean apnea-hypopnea index for obesechildren was 17.2 (5.0-38.0) and for normal-weight children was 15.7 (5.3-88.0). The BSI score was 55.3 (SD, 15.9) for obese and 55.9 (SD, 15.0) for normal-weight children. Seven (38.9%) obese and 12 (35.3%) normal-weight children had clinically significant or abnormal behavior. Similar results were seen for the BASC scales of atypicality, depression, hyperactivity, and somatization in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral problems are highly prevalent in children with OSA. However, these problems exist independently of whether children are obese or normal weight.
Authors: Victoria L Pemberton; Brian W McCrindle; Shari Barkin; Stephen R Daniels; Sarah E Barlow; Helen J Binns; Meryl S Cohen; Christina Economos; Myles S Faith; Samuel S Gidding; Caren S Goldberg; Rae-Ellen Kavey; Patricia Longmuir; Albert P Rocchini; Linda Van Horn; Jonathan R Kaltman Journal: Circulation Date: 2010-03-09 Impact factor: 29.690