Abstract
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) comprises a group of diseases characterized by alterations in the frequency and/or depth of breathing during sleep. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of SDB in a group of Albanian children and adolescents and to describe its social, physiological, psychological, sleep-related, and anthropometric risk factors, in relation to the sociodemographic situation. A total of 6087 participants (mean age: 10.42 years, range: 6 to 15 years, 52.3% females and 47.7% males) attending public schools all over Albania took part in the cross-sectional study. On a sample of 6087 questionnaires distributed, 4702 (77.25% of the original sample) were returned and included in the study. High risk status for SDB was assessed using the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The prevalence of SDB was 7.9%. No statistically significant difference was found for gender at high risk for SBD. Compared to participants living in urban aeras (7.3%), participants living in rural areas (10.4%) reported significantly higher SDB prevalence rates. No other significant correlations were detected between the high-risk subjects and the age. The prevalence of the subjects at high risk of SBD obese participants (20.8%) was statistically higher than among nonobese ones (6.3%). SDB is highly prevalent in Albanian growing population and further prevalence studies are recommended.
Highlights
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) comprises a group of diseases ranging from snoring to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), characterized by alterations in the frequency and/or depth of breathing during sleep [1]
According to the division of the sample based on urban and rural residence, the urban sample was larger than the rural areas one (83% versus 17%): only in Tirana and Durresi, due to logistical, timing and economic issues, the sample was distributed in both residences
The present study reveals that the prevalence of SDB considerably increases from 6.3% in the normal-weighted population to 20.8% in the population having BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, which means every other overweight/obese participant is at risk of having SDB
Summary
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) comprises a group of diseases ranging from snoring to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), characterized by alterations in the frequency and/or depth of breathing during sleep [1]. SDB in childhood can lead to behavioral and cognitive impairments that might be related to the particular vulnerability of the pre-frontal cortex [2]. The pediatric individuals with sleep disorders present hyperactivity, restlessness, lack of attention, loss of appetite and irritability [3,4]. SDB in development age could be responsible to significant morbidity leading to metabolic syndrome [5], cardiovascular consequences [6], and growth failure [7]. Pediatric sleep disorders are associated with at least four clinical phenotypes: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy, orthodontic and craniofacial alterations and syndromic conditions, primary neuromuscular disorders, and obesity.
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