Correlation between Quality of Life and Indices of Polysomnography in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Lim, Hyun Woo; Lee, Sang Hag; Lee, Heung Man; Choi, Ji Ho; Kwon, Soon Young; Shin, Chol; Lee, Seung Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can have an effect on the quality of life in children by causing sleep disturbance, physical symptoms, emotional distress and daytime function. We aim to verify the correlation between the sleep related quality of life and indices of full nocturnal polysomnography in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Twenty-three children aged from 3 through 15 years old (male:16, female:7) diagnosed to have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using the full nocturnal polysomnography were studied. The caregivers for each child were asked to complete a KOSA-18 (Korean Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18) survey to define the sleep related quality of life. The relationship between indices of polysomnography and the total score of KOSA-18 (KOSA-18 T score) were analyzed by Spearman correlation.
RESULTS
There was significant correlation between KOSA-18 T score and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) (R=0.556, p=006), KOSA-18 T score and arousal index (R=0.466, p=.025), and KOSA-18 T score and snoring (R=0.472, p=.027). However, the others did not show significant correlation.
CONCLUSION
The 70% in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has higher degree of impairment in the sleep related quality of life. The larger the impairment in the children'squality of life by obstructive sleep apnea is, the higher the score of RDI, arousal index and snoring are. Therefore, earlier and more aggressive management may be needed in children with high KOSA-18.