Association between morphometric variables and nocturnal desaturation in sickle‐cell anemia

Abstract

Objectiveto evaluate associations between morphometric variables, cervical circumference (CC), and abdominal circumference (AC) with the presence of nocturnal desaturation in children and adolescents with sickle‐cell anemia. Methodsall patients were submitted to baseline polysomnography, oral cavity measurements (maxillary intermolar distance, mandibular intermolar distance, and overjet), and CC and AC measurements. Resultsa total of 85 patients were evaluated. A positive correlation was observed between the height/age Z‐score and CC measurement (r = 0.233, p = 0.031). The presence of nocturnal desaturation was associated with CC (59.2 ± 9.3 vs. 67.5 ± 10.7, p = 0.006) and AC measurements (27.0 ± 2.0 vs. 29.0 ± 2.1, p = 0.028). There was a negative correlation between desaturation and maxillary intermolar distance (r = −0.365, p = 0.001) and mandibular intermolar distance (r = −0.233, p = 0.037). Conclusionsthe morphometric variables of CC and AC may contribute to raise suspicion of nocturnal desaturation in children and adolescents with sickle‐cell anemia.