Treatment and persistence/recurrence of sleep-disordered breathing in children with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children with Down syndrome, but the trajectory and long-term outcomes are not well-described. In a retrospective longitudinal cohort of children with Down syndrome, study objectives were to (1) characterize polysomnography (PSG), treatments received, and persistence/recurrence of SDB and (2) explore predictors of SDB persistence/recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of children who underwent PSGs between 2004 and 2014. SDB was defined as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-mixed (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] >5 events/hour), central sleep apnea or hypoventilation. PSGs, interventions, and trajectory of SDB were described. Age, body mass index (BMI) Z-score and AHI at first SDB diagnosis were evaluated as predictors of persistent/recurrent SDB. RESULTS: Of 506 children, 120 had ≥1 PSG; 54 had subsequent PSGs. Children with ≥2 PSGs were more likely to have higher total AHI (P = .02) and obstructive-mixed AHI (P = .01). Thirty-five of fifty-four (65%) were initially diagnosed with OSA-mixed SDB. After first PSG, 67 of 120 had OSA-mixed SDB, of whom 25 (37.3%) underwent adenotonsillectomy (T&A), 13 (19.4%) received positive airway pressure (PAP). Those who underwent T&A after PSG were significantly younger than those who received PAP (median age 6.2 vs 12.5 years; P = .005). OSA-mixed SDB persisted/recurred in 33 of 54 (73.3%) with ≥2 PSGs. Persistence/recurrence was not associated with age, AHI or BMI Z-score at first SDB. CONCLUSION: Children with Down syndrome undergoing T&A for SDB were significantly younger than those treated with PAP. SDB persisted/recurred in three of four and was not predicted by age, SDB severity or BMI Z-score. Longitudinal PSG assessment for persistence/recurrence of SDB is required in this population.

Predicting the presence of sleep-disordered breathing in children with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent in children with Down syndrome. Given the scarcity of resources and the presence of risk factors for SDB in this population, the objective of this study is to identify the clinical predictors of SDB, which would assist prioritization of children with Down syndrome for SDB evaluation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on children enrolled in the Down syndrome clinic at CHEO who underwent polysomnography in 2004-2014. Total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) or obstructive AHI (OAHI) > 5 events/hour was considered clinically significant. Associations between SDB and concurrent diagnoses, referral reasons, and sleep symptoms assessed by questionnaire were examined using Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of SDB. RESULTS: SDB was present in 42.9% of 119 children, with its highest prevalence at age 8 years. Symptoms were not significantly associated with AHI > 5 events/hour or OAHI > 5 events/hour. Gastroesophageal reflux was associated with lower odds of OAHI > 5 events/hour on univariate testing (odds ratio 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.72; p = 0.02) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio 0.05, 95% CI 0.0006-0.50; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: SDB is highly prevalent at all ages in children with Down syndrome. Symptoms did not predict SDB in this population, although gastroesophageal reflux may mimic SDB, which indicates that clinicians should continue to perform ongoing surveillance for SDB throughout the lifespan of children with Down syndrome.