Features of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with and without Comorbidities

Abstract

Background: To compare the clinical and polysomnographic features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (Group A) and comorbidities (Group B). Methods: A five-year prospective study using nocturnal polysomnography before and after treatment. Results: We included 168 patients: 121 in Group A and 47 in Group B, with differences in age (6.5 ± 3 vs. 8.6 ± 4 years; p p p p p p p p p p p p < 0.01). Clinical and polysomnography parameters improved significantly in both groups after therapeutic intervention, though Group A showed better results. Conclusions: Obesity and facial anomalies are more frequent in childhood OSA patients with comorbidities, who often require combination therapy, such as ventilation and surgery.

Keywords

• childhood sleep apnea
• adenotonsillar hypertrophy
• concomitant disease
• predisposing factors