Medisur (May 2012)
Prevalence of Sleep-related Breathing Disorders in Children from 6 to 11 Years Old
Abstract
Background: For many authors the current prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders is not totally clear. Nevertheless, it affects approximately from 2 to 13% of children and adolescents ranging from simple snoring child to those with clinical manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea. Objective: To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring and major symptoms associated with sleep-related breathing disorders in school children from 6 to 11 years old. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in Moa, which included a sample of 1608 school children aged from 6 to11 years old. For epidemiologic data recollection, a questionnaire named TuCASA was used and in order to stratify patients according to clinical manifestations related to sleep-related breathing disorders the Brouillette score was used. Results: 13.55% of school children snore habitually and 36.01% occasionally. 14.31% of males and 12.65% of females snore regularly. Sore throat (44.95%) and mouth breathing during the day (47.71%) were common clinical manifestations in habitually snoring children. 91.61% of those with a score between -1 and 3.5 and 89.80% of those who had> 3.5 in Brouillette score were habitual snorers. Conclusions: A high percentage of schoolchildren are occasional or habitual snorers, which was most frequently observed in 8 to 9 years old male children. Clinical manifestations during the day and night compatible with sleep-related breathing disorders are more common in habitual snorers
