Adenotonsillectomy outcomes regarding bone age and osteocalcin in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children

Effectiveness and safety of (adeno) tonsillectomy for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea in different age groups: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of (adeno)tonsillectomy (AT) for uncomplicated pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) across different age groups. Four electronic databases were searched until April 2022, and 93 studies (9087 participants) were selected, including before-after studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials. It has been suggested that age, disease severity, and length of follow-up are associated with surgical effects. Compared with older children (>7 years), patients receiving AT surgery before the age of 7 exhibited a significantly greater release of disease severity, as well as a greater decrease in hypoxemic burden, improvement in sleep quality, and better cardiovascular function. Cognitive/behavioral performance also improved after AT, although it was more related to the length of follow-up than the age at surgery. Notably, the surgical complication rate was considerably higher in patients younger than 3 years old. Overall, we suggest that the age of 3-7 years might be optimal for AT in polysomnography-diagnosed uncomplicated OSA to maximize potential benefits for both disease and comorbidities and balance the risks of surgery.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing Is Associated with Reduced Mandibular Cortical Width in Children

INTRODUCTION

Evidence from the adult population suggests that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) (i.e., obstructive sleep apnea [OSA]) is negatively associated with bone mineral density. Whether a similar association exists in children with SDB has not been investigated. Using the mandibular cortical width (MCW) as a proxy for skeletal bone density, we investigated if children at risk of SDB or diagnosed with OSA have a reduced mandibular cortical width compared to children without SDB.

METHODS

Two retrospective cross-sectional studies were performed. The first study included comparison of MCW between 24 children with polysomnographically (PSG) diagnosed OSA and 72 age- and sex-matched control children. The second study included a cohort of children in which SDB was suggested by the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) ( n = 101). MCW was measured from panoramic radiographs.

RESULTS

Multiple-predictors regression analysis from the first study indicated that in children with a severe form of SDB, as induced by OSA severity, there was a negative association with MCW (β = -0.290, P = 0.049). Moreover, PSG-diagnosed OSA children had thinner MCW (2.9. ± 0.6mm) compared to healthy children (3.5 ± 0.6 mm; P = 0.002). These findings were further supported by the second study illustrating that PSQ total scores were negatively associated with MCW (β = -0.391, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that children at risk for or diagnosed with SDB exhibit reduced mandibular cortical width that purportedly may reflect alterations in bone homeostasis.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

We report that sleep-disordered breathing (including its severe form, obstructive sleep apnea) in children is associated with reduced mandibular cortical width. This association might be a direct consequence of reduced bone health to sleep-disordered breathing or a reflection that reduced bone formation underlies the development of sleep-disordered breathing. Our findings suggest that mandibular cortical width can be used as an adjunct diagnostic parameter for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing.