Can sleep questionnaires predict adenotonsillectomy outcome for children with sleep disordered breathing?

INTRODUCTION: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the main cause of childhood sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and adenotonsillectomy (TA) the most common treatment. Polysomnography (PSG) for diagnosing SDB is often difficult to obtain with Otolaryngologists usually relying on history and examination when recommending TA. Questionnaires assessing quality of life (QoL) may assist the Otolaryngologists decision making. AIMS: To explore changes in QoL tools following TA for SDB in children aged 3 to 15 with the aim of identifying whether the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) or Obstructive Sleep Apnoea -18 (OSA-18) is a better predictor of outcome following TA. METHODS: QoL was assessed using OSA-18, PSQ and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™). Four groups were recruited from three research databases, those with: SDB, recurrent tonsillitis (RT), SDB and RT, or no disease (controls). Children either received TA or underwent observation. QoL questionnaires were administered at recruitment and 3 months later. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Pre-intervention scores were plotted against changes in scores, with pre-established cut-offs and cut-offs indicated by control group variability. RESULTS: There were 120 children, 25 had no intervention, and 19 were controls. All questionnaires showed test-retest reliability over time. Using the distribution of scores from the control group we estimated the 95th percentile to redefine the cut-off for OSA-18 (reduced from 60 to 46) and PSQ (unchanged from 0.33). Higher pre-operative scores predicted greater reduction following TA, with OSA-18 the most consistent predictor of QoL change. The PSQ classified 86.8% of children undergoing TA above the 0.33 cut-off; whereas OSA-18 classified 73.7% above the 46 cut-off. Of these, 71.2% and 87.5% showed improvement after TA, respectively. Using the 95% confidence interval for change in the control group to identify a 'meaningful' change in score, children with OSA-18 scores >46 had a 93% chance of a meaningful improvement, whereas PSQ scores >0.33 were associated with an 80% chance of a meaningful improvement. CONCLUSIONS: OSA-18 is a better predictor of improved QoL than PSQ for TA in children with SDB. We propose a new cut off score (>46) for OSA-18. This may assist Otolaryngologists' decision making when assessing a child with SDB.

Emergent academic skills growth in New Zealand pre-school children undergoing treatment for sleep disordered breathing: a case-control pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and treatment sensitivity of measures of preschool oral language and emergent literacy and numeracy for assessing developing skills of preschool children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in New Zealand following adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: Eight preschool children aged 3 years 1 month-4 years 5 months were recruited from a surgical waiting list and matched to controls for age (±3 months) and sex. Tasks designed to be sensitive to growth in oral language and emergent literacy and numeracy were reviewed for contextual fit, adapted as necessary for the New Zealand context, and administered before surgery (baseline), three months post-surgery, and at a seven-month follow-up alongside other measures. RESULTS: Growth in oral language and emergent literacy was greater for case children than matched controls, suggesting that the tasks were sensitive to treatment effects. No such effect was observed for early numeracy tasks. Case children had more symptoms of SDB and behavioral and emotional difficulties than matched controls prior to surgery, and improvements were reported in these domains following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Oral language and emergent literacy measures trialled in the present research showed potential for evaluating treatment outcomes in pre-schoolers with SDB, and provided preliminary evidence that early treatment of SDB could have positive effects on learning in these domains.

Natural history of snoring and other sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms in 7-year-old New Zealand children: a follow-up from age 3.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the natural history of snoring and associated symptoms in a community sample of New Zealand children at ages 3 and 7 years, and identify factors associated with habitual snoring at age 7 years. METHODS: Parent/s of children (n = 839) who completed the community survey about their child's sleep and breathing at age 3 years were re-contacted via mail 4 years later when children were aged 7 years. Parents were asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire which included items relating to their child's sleep and health, and family demographic information. There was a 54.8% (n = 460) response rate. RESULTS: At follow-up, habitual snoring was prevalent in 9.2% of the sample, similar to the 11.3% reported at age 3 years. However, habitual snoring status changed over time; 36.2% (n = 21/58) remained habitual snorers; 63.8% (n = 37/58) were no longer snoring habitually, while 5.3% (n = 21/397) had started habitual snoring since the initial survey. Overall, the reported severity of SDB-related symptoms decreased over time, regardless of initial habitual snoring status. Nonetheless, habitual snoring at follow-up was significantly associated with mouth breathing, sleeping with the neck extended, sweating profusely, night waking, and parent-reported child irritability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of SDB, where habitual snoring and related symptoms can develop, remain present, or resolve at different times, over early-mid-childhood years. Given the dynamic nature of habitual snoring over the early childhood years, pediatricians should continue to screen for snoring and sleep apnea on an annual basis throughout childhood.