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Background Up to 50% of overweight/obese children have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to up to 6% of normal weight children. We compared cardiovascular variables between normal weight and overweight/obese children with and without OSA, and controls. Methods Seventy-four referred children and 24 normal weight non-snoring controls (8-18 years) were recruited. Referred children were grouped according to their obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI): OSA (>1 event/h) or primary snoring (PS <= 1 event/h) and whether they were normal weight (BMI z-score <1.04) or overweight/obese (BMI z-score >= 1.04). Wake blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and pulse transit time (PTT, an inverse continuous surrogate measure of blood pressure) during sleep were recorded. Results Wake BP was higher in the overweight/obese OSA group than in the control, normal weight PS, and overweight/obese PS groups (p < 0.05 for all). During sleep, BP, and HR were elevated in the overweight/obese OSA group compared to those in non-snoring controls (p < 0.05). More children who were overweight/obese had reduced BP and HR dipping from wake to sleep than normal weight children. The BMI z-score predicted HR and PTT when asleep and both age and BMI z-score predicted BP when awake. Conclusion This study showed that BMI has both combined and independent effects on BP and HR in children with OSA. We have previously shown that treatment of OSA reduces BP and suggest that treatment of OSA in the growing number of overweight/obese children may improve cardiovascular outcomes.Copyright © 2017

Background Up to 50% of overweight/obese children have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to up to 6% of normal weight children. We compared cardiovascular variables between normal weight and overweight/obese children with and without OSA, and controls. Methods Seventy-four referred children and 24 normal weight non-snoring controls (8-18 years) were recruited. Referred children were grouped according to their obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI): OSA (>1 event/h) or primary snoring (PS <= 1 event/h) and whether they were normal weight (BMI z-score <1.04) or overweight/obese (BMI z-score >= 1.04). Wake blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and pulse transit time (PTT, an inverse continuous surrogate measure of blood pressure) during sleep were recorded. Results Wake BP was higher in the overweight/obese OSA group than in the control, normal weight PS, and overweight/obese PS groups (p < 0.05 for all). During sleep, BP, and HR were elevated in the overweight/obese OSA group compared to those in non-snoring controls (p < 0.05). More children who were overweight/obese had reduced BP and HR dipping from wake to sleep than normal weight children. The BMI z-score predicted HR and PTT when asleep and both age and BMI z-score predicted BP when awake. Conclusion This study showed that BMI has both combined and independent effects on BP and HR in children with OSA. We have previously shown that treatment of OSA reduces BP and suggest that treatment of OSA in the growing number of overweight/obese children may improve cardiovascular outcomes.Copyright © 2017

Objective: Little is known of the long-term prognosis of children treated for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and even less of children with milder forms of SDB who remain untreated. We aimed to investigate the long-term sleep and respiratory outcomes of children with a range of SDB severities. Method(s): 41 children with SDB and 20 non snoring controls (mean age, 12.9+/-0.2. y), underwent repeat overnight polysomnography (PSG) 4.0+/-0.3 years after initial diagnosis. SDB severity, presence of snoring, sleep and respiratory parameters, sleep fragmentation index (SFI), the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), and obstructive sleep apnea 18-item quality of life questionnaire were re assessed. Children with SDB were grouped into resolved (no snoring and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [OAHI] <1) and unresolved (snoring or an OAHI >=1). Result(s): At follow-up OAHI was reduced in both SDB groups (p<0.05); however, 54% (n=22) of children still continued to snore, having either persistent or new OSA (n=4). In this unresolved group, sleep was significantly disrupted; % nonrapid eye movement stage 1 (NREM1) sleep and SFI were increased (p<0.05), and total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency were decreased compared to the resolved and control groups (p<0.05). Overall, 29% of children were treated, and of these, 67% had resolved SDB. SDB groups had higher PDSS, SDSC, and OSA-18 scores compared to controls at follow-up (p<0.01). Conclusion(s): Our study demonstrated that although SDB improved in the long-term, more than 50% of children had residual SDB (mostly primary snoring) and sleep disturbance. As even mild forms of SDB are known to have adverse cardiovascular, learning, and behavioral outcomes, which have implications for the health of these children. © 2013.

Objective: Little is known of the long-term prognosis of children treated for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and even less of children with milder forms of SDB who remain untreated. We aimed to investigate the long-term sleep and respiratory outcomes of children with a range of SDB severities. Method(s): 41 children with SDB and 20 non snoring controls (mean age, 12.9+/-0.2. y), underwent repeat overnight polysomnography (PSG) 4.0+/-0.3 years after initial diagnosis. SDB severity, presence of snoring, sleep and respiratory parameters, sleep fragmentation index (SFI), the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), and obstructive sleep apnea 18-item quality of life questionnaire were re assessed. Children with SDB were grouped into resolved (no snoring and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [OAHI] <1) and unresolved (snoring or an OAHI >=1). Result(s): At follow-up OAHI was reduced in both SDB groups (p<0.05); however, 54% (n=22) of children still continued to snore, having either persistent or new OSA (n=4). In this unresolved group, sleep was significantly disrupted; % nonrapid eye movement stage 1 (NREM1) sleep and SFI were increased (p<0.05), and total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency were decreased compared to the resolved and control groups (p<0.05). Overall, 29% of children were treated, and of these, 67% had resolved SDB. SDB groups had higher PDSS, SDSC, and OSA-18 scores compared to controls at follow-up (p<0.01). Conclusion(s): Our study demonstrated that although SDB improved in the long-term, more than 50% of children had residual SDB (mostly primary snoring) and sleep disturbance. As even mild forms of SDB are known to have adverse cardiovascular, learning, and behavioral outcomes, which have implications for the health of these children. © 2013.