Sleep related breathing disorders among Lithuanian children and its associations with possible risk factors

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Sleep related breathing disorders (SRBDs) is a condition that is very important to recognize in pediatric population. Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) is one of the valid and reliable instrument to screen children for SRBDs. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of SRBDs using PSQ and to analyze its’ associations with possible risk factors among children population in Kaunas city. <b>Methods:</b> We enrolled 384 participants aged 2-18y/o from 9 randomly selected educational institutions in Kaunas city. Parents completed the questionnaire survey which was formed by open and close ended questions about the child9s age, gender, health, medication and PSQ developed by R. D. Chervin. Subjects who scored ≥8 positive answers in the PSQ were assigned to a group of children with suspected SRBDs. The&nbsp;analysis of associated risk factors were made. <b>Results:</b> An average age of the participants was 12.04y/o. The prevalence of suspected SRBDs with PSQ was 31.4%. The distribution of children with suspected sleep related breathing disorders did not statistically significantly differ among three age groups (p=0.675). SRBDs were more commonly suspected in school age girls (p&lt;0.001). Children with suspected SRBDs had a higher mean incidence rate of respiratory infections per year (2.32 and 1.4, respectively). Suspected SRBDs were more common in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids (p=0.041), patients with endocrine disorders (p&lt;0.001) and mental illness (p=0.003). <b>Conclusion:</b> SRBDs were suspected in 31.4% children of Kaunas city using PSQ.&nbsp;Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, mental illness and endocrine diseases are the most common risk factors for sleep-disodered breathing.