Abstract
Delayed physical growth is a common complication of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the first-line treatment for pediatric OSAS. Only a few studies have performed time-course BMI evaluation in pediatric OSAS patients post-operatively. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the time-course changes in pediatric OSAS patients after AT. Thirty-three children with OSAS who underwent AT were included and divided into two groups on the basis of their BMI z-scores (delayed physical growth group, n = 15; non-delayed physical growth group, n = 18). Clinical records of height and weight were collected before AT and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after AT. Changes in the mean BMI z-scores of the two groups were assessed up to 36 months. The mean BMI z-score was significantly increased in the delayed physical growth group at 6 months after AT. In contrast, the increase in mean BMI z-score was not observed in the non-delayed physical growth group. Growth improvement was noted in pediatric OSAS patients with delayed physical growth after AT. Our results suggest that AT is a promising therapy for improving the physical growth of pediatric OSAS patients with such problems.
Highlights
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children is defined as a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep, characterized by sustained partial upper airway obstruction and/or intermittent complete obstruction, that inhibits normal breathing during sleep [1]
We evaluated the characteristics of the pediatric patients to determine any presence of delayed physical growth (Table 1)
The mean BMI z-score had not increased in the nondelayed physical growth group during the study period. These results suggest that physical growth recovery was observed in
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children is defined as a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep, characterized by sustained partial upper airway obstruction and/or intermittent complete obstruction (obstructive apnea), that inhibits normal breathing during sleep [1]. It can occur in children of all ages from neonates to adolescents, and its prevalence is at least 1–3% [1,2,3]. Bonuck et al [9] estimated that the prevalence of delayed physical growth due to OSAS in children younger than 6 years was 21%. ATH and sleep-disordered breathing are risk factors in the etiology of growth failure
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