BACKGROUND: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with impaired cognitive and behavioral function in school children; however, there have been limited studies in preschool children when the incidence of the disorder peaks. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare cognitive and behavioral functions of preschool children with SDB to those of non-snoring control children. METHODS: A clinical sample of 3-5 year-old children (primary snoring [PS], n=60; mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS], n=32; moderate/severe [MS] OSAS, n=24) and a community sample of non-snoring control children (n=37) were studied with overnight polysomnography. Cognitive performance and behavioral information were collected. RESULTS: Children with PS and mild OSAS had poorer behavior than controls on numerous measures (p<.05-p<.001), and on some measures they had poorer behavior than the MS OSAS group (p<.05). In contrast, all groups performed similarly on cognitive assessment. Outcomes related more to sleep than respiratory measures. CONCLUSIONS: SDB of any severity was associated with poorer behavior but not cognitive performance. The lack of significant cognitive impairment in this age group may have identified a "window of opportunity" where early treatment may prevent deficits arising later in childhood.
BACKGROUND:Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with impaired cognitive and behavioral function in school children; however, there have been limited studies in preschool children when the incidence of the disorder peaks. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare cognitive and behavioral functions of preschool children with SDB to those of non-snoring control children. METHODS: A clinical sample of 3-5 year-old children (primary snoring [PS], n=60; mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS], n=32; moderate/severe [MS] OSAS, n=24) and a community sample of non-snoring control children (n=37) were studied with overnight polysomnography. Cognitive performance and behavioral information were collected. RESULTS:Children with PS and mild OSAS had poorer behavior than controls on numerous measures (p<.05-p<.001), and on some measures they had poorer behavior than the MS OSAS group (p<.05). In contrast, all groups performed similarly on cognitive assessment. Outcomes related more to sleep than respiratory measures. CONCLUSIONS: SDB of any severity was associated with poorer behavior but not cognitive performance. The lack of significant cognitive impairment in this age group may have identified a "window of opportunity" where early treatment may prevent deficits arising later in childhood.
Authors: Teresa M Ward; Dean W Beebe; Maida Lynn Chen; Carol A Landis; Sarah Ringold; Ken Pike; Carol A Wallace Journal: J Rheumatol Date: 2017-01-15 Impact factor: 4.666
Authors: Angela R Jackman; Sarah N Biggs; Lisa M Walter; Upeka S Embuldeniya; Margot J Davey; Gillian M Nixon; Vicki Anderson; John Trinder; Rosemary S C Horne Journal: Sleep Date: 2013-11-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: H Gerry Taylor; Susan R Bowen; Dean W Beebe; Elise Hodges; Raouf Amin; Raanan Arens; Ronald D Chervin; Susan L Garetz; Eliot S Katz; Reneé H Moore; Knashawn H Morales; Hiren Muzumdar; Shalini Paruthi; Carol L Rosen; Anjali Sadhwani; Nina Hattiangadi Thomas; Janice Ware; Carole L Marcus; Susan S Ellenberg; Susan Redline; Bruno Giordani Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2016-08 Impact factor: 7.124