Assessment of sleep-disordered breathing in pediatric otitis media with effusion

A narrative review on obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in paediatric population

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is a respiratory sleep disorder that affects 1-5% of children. It occurs equally in males and females, with higher incidence in school age and adolescence. OSAS may be caused by several factors, but in children, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, obesity, and maxillo-mandibular deficits are the most common. In general, there is a reduction in the diameter of the airway with reduced airflow. This condition worsens during sleep due to the muscular hypotonia, resulting in apnoeas or hypoventilation. While snoring is the primary symptom, OSAS-related manifestations have a wide spectrum. Some of these symptoms relate to the nocturnal phase, including disturbed sleep, frequent changes of position, apnoeas and oral respiration. Other symptoms concern the daytime hours, such as drowsiness, irritability, inattention, difficulties with learning and memorisation, and poor school performance, especially in patient suffering from overlapping syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome). In some cases, the child's general growth may also be affected. Early diagnosis of this condition is crucial in limiting associated symptoms that can significantly impact a paediatric patient's quality of life, with the potential for the condition to persist into adulthood. Diagnosis involves evaluating several aspects, beginning with a comprehensive anamnesis that includes specific questionnaires, followed by an objective examination. This is followed by instrumental diagnosis, for which polysomnography is considered the gold standard, assessing several parameters, including the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation. However, it is not the sole tool for assessing the characteristics of this condition. Other possibilities, such as night-time video recording, nocturnal oximetry, can be chosen when polysomnography is not available and even tested at home, even though with a lower diagnostic accuracy. The treatment of OSAS varies depending on the cause. In children, the most frequent therapies are adenotonsillectomy or orthodontic therapies, specifically maxillary expansion.

The impact of adenotonsillectomy on healthcare utilization in children with obstructive sleep apnea: Experience of an integrated medical model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Studies suggest that children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased healthcare utilization patterns in comparison to matched controls. However, the effect of adenotonsillectomy (AT) on utilization patterns in these children is poorly understood. Additionally, no previous studies have compared the effect of AT on healthcare utilization patterns across different OSA severity groups. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to assess the effects of surgical treatment on the level of healthcare utilization among children with OSA at a large integrated multicenter healthcare system.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed of children aged 3-12 diagnosed with OSA via an attended polysomnogram (PSG) between December 2016 and February 2019. Demographic variables including age (at time of PSG), body mass index (BMI), race, and ethnicity were obtained. Variables for healthcare utilization were assessed for 12 months prior to PSG, and for 12 months after PSG (or after AT, delayed for the first 30 days after surgery to account for surgery-related visits). Healthcare utilization variables assessed included the total number of outpatient visits, inpatient, and emergency department (ED) visits, visits involving diagnostic codes associated with upper respiratory infection (URI), otitis media (OM), and allergic rhinitis (AR), prescription data involving intranasal steroids or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), and communication data such as secure message load and specialty referrals. Repeated measure linear difference-in-difference (D-I-D) models were used to assess the causal impact of AT on healthcare utilization outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed using modeling with a Poisson distribution and as an unadjusted model, with statistical significance set to p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Analysis elicited 577 children identified with OSA. Of these, 336 (58.2 %) underwent observation while 241 (41.8 %) underwent AT. The mean age was 6.4 years, with a slight male predominance (60.5 %). Analysis of baseline healthcare utilization patterns revealed that the treatment group had a significantly higher number of baseline inpatient/ED visits and OM visits in comparison to the observation group, but no differences in regards to baseline outpatient visits, or in visits involving URI or AR. Analysis of the entire OSA cohort via D-I-D modelling showed a significantly larger reduction in outpatient visits, secure messages, specialty referrals, and the use of intranasal steroid and LTRA in the treatment group compared to the observation group. Stratification of children based on OSA severity showed that the significant differences in healthcare utilization attributed to surgical treatment were primarily driven by the severe OSA group. Children with severe OSA who underwent AT showed significant reductions in most variables including outpatient visits, inpatient/ED visits, and OM visits. Alternatively, the only significant reductions in healthcare utilization among children with mild OSA treated with AT were in AR visits, intranasal steroid use, and LTRA use. Pattern changes among children with moderate OSA compared similarly to those with mild OSA.

CONCLUSION

To the authors' knowledge this study represents the largest available study assessing the impact of AT on healthcare utilization in children with OSA that also considers the effect of OSA severity on utilization patterns. AT appears to decrease healthcare utilization patterns, particularly in children with severe OSA. Alternatively, children with mild or moderate OSA treated with AT had only modest reductions in healthcare utilization patterns.

Insights into Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing: Exploring Risk Factors, Surgical Interventions, and Physical and Scholastic Performance at Follow-Up

(1) Background: Sleep-disordered breathing represents a growing public health concern, especially among children and adolescents. The main risk factors for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing in school-age children are tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy. Adenoidectomy, often in combination with tonsillectomy, is the primary treatment modality for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. This study aims to comprehensively investigate various risk and protective factors in children with sleep-disordered breathing undergoing adenotonsillar or adenoidal surgeries. We also aim to explore the differences in neuropsychological profiles. (2) Methods: This is an observational, retrospective cohort study. We collected information on adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy in children referred to our center. We reviewed the clinical history and preoperative visits and collected data through a telephone questionnaire. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) screen sleep-disordered breathing and quality of life, respectively. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). (3) Results: The study involved 138 patients, but only 100 children participated. A higher percentage of patients with sleep-disordered breathing were observed to have mothers who smoked during pregnancy. A smaller proportion of patients with sleep-disordered breathing habitually used a pacifier. A rise in physical score was associated with a reduced PSQ at follow-up (p = 0.051). An increase in the overall academic score was related to a decrease in the PSQ at follow-up (p < 0.001). A more significant proportion of patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy were observed to have a history of prematurity and cesarean birth. (4) This comprehensive study delves into the intricate interplay of risk and protective factors impacting children with sleep-disordered breathing undergoing adenotonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

The effect of OSA on the negative pressure and acoustic compliance of middle ear cavity in children

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the negative pressure and acoustic compliance of middle ear cavity in children.

METHODS

The clinical data of 258 children with suspected OSA, who complained of mouth breathing or snoring at night in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and neck surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University from August 2020 to March 2022, were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. The OSA and otitis media with effusion (OME) were determined by polysomnography (PSG) and acoustic immittance examination, respectively. Then, the parameters of tympanometry were compared between OSA and non-OSA children or among the children with various severity of OSA.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the incidence of OME between children with OSA and those with non-OSA (15.80% vs 11.80%, P = 0.422). Compared with non-OSA children, OSA children had lower negative pressure (-56.42 vs -12.38, P < 0.001) and higher acoustic compliance (0.45 vs 0.38, P = 0.030) in middle ear cavity. There were also significant differences in negative pressure and acoustic compliance among children with mild, moderate and severe OSA (P < 0.001; P = 0.001). However, only the absolute value of negative pressure was markedly decreased after surgical therapy accompanied with transformation from OSA to non-OSA (-156.67 vs -45.67, P < 0.05), while this was not observed for acoustic compliance (0.48 vs 0.40, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

OSA may have an adverse influence on the negative pressure and acoustic compliance of middle ear cavity in children.

Hypoxia in non-rapid eye movement sleep in children with otitis media with effusion

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the status of hypoxia in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in children with otitis media with effusion (OME).

Methods

A total of 232 children with OME and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy were enrolled in this retrospective study between August 2020 and November 2021. Polysomnographic monitoring was carried out, and the differences in polysomnographic results between the experimental group (children with OME and adenotonsillar hypertrophy) and control group (children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy only) were compared.

Results

The lowest oxygen saturation level during sleep was significantly lower in the experimental group (n  =  36) than in the control group (n = 196). However, the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disorder index, apnea index, obstructive apnea index, obstructive apnea-hypopnea index, and mixed apnea-hypopnea index were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. More importantly, the apnea-hypopnea index, the oxygen desaturation index, oxygen desaturation events, the average heart rate during NREM sleep, and the NREM stage in total sleep time were also significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusions

Hypoxia during NREM sleep may affect the severity of OME in children.

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders in Children—Red Flags in Pediatric Care

Objectives: In recent years, we have witnessed a growing interest in pediatric sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD). Although a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) exists and was found reliable in screening SRBD in children, many of the children remain underdiagnosed. The aim of the present study was to define anamnestic and clinical findings that can serve as red flags indicating the presence of SRBD in children. Methods: 227 children aged 4–12 years old were evaluated with regard to the following parameters: (i) anamnestic variables (e.g., general state of health, oral habits, bruxism, esophageal reflux, sleep continuity, snoring); (ii) clinical parameters (e.g., oral mucosa, palate, tonsils, tongue, floor of the mouth, angle classification, gingival health, caries risk) and (iii) presence of SRBD (through the PSQ). Results: Significant differences between children with and without SRBD were observed regarding continuous sleep, developmental delay, mouth breathing, and snoring. Taking medications for ADHD increased the odds of SRBD in children by over seven times, non-continuous sleep increased the odds of SRBD by six times, mouth breathing increased the odds by almost five times, and snoring increased the odds by over three times. Conclusions: Child caregivers from various fields (dentists, orthodontists, pediatric physicians, school nurses) should actively inquire about disturbed sleep, medications for ADHD, snoring, and mouth breathing among their young patients. Initial screening through a few simple questions may help raise red flags that can assist in the early detection of SRBD in children and lead to proper diagnosis and treatment.