Clinical outcomes associated with sleep-disordered breathing in Caucasian and Hispanic children--the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea study (TuCASA).
OBJECTIVE
This report describes clinical outcomes and threshold levels of respiratory disturbance index (RDI) associated with sleep-disordered breathing in children participating in the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea study.


METHODS
A community-based, prospective cohort study designed to assess the severity of sleep-related symptoms associated with sleep-disordered breathing in children aged 6 to 11 years.


METHODS
Students attending elementary school in the Tucson Unified School District.


METHODS
Unattended home polysomnograms were completed on 239 children-55.2% boys, 51% Hispanic, and 55% between the ages of 6 and 8 years.


RESULTS
Based on full home polysomnography, levels of RDI that correspond to a higher prevalence of clinical symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in children aged 6 to 11 were observed. An RDI of at least 5 was associated with frequent snoring (20.3% vs 9.1%, P<.01), excessive daytime sleepiness (22.9% vs 10.7%, P<.01), and learning problems (8.5% vs 2.5%, P<.04) when no oxygen desaturation accompanied the respiratory event. An RDI of at least 1 was associated with these symptoms when a 3% oxygen desaturation was required, snoring (24.0% vs 10.4%, P<.006), excessive daytime sleepiness (24.0% vs 13.4%, P<.04), and learning problems (10.7% vs 3.0%, P<.02). Hispanic or Caucasian ethnicity, sex, age category, obesity, insomnia, and witnessed apnea were not associated with RDI regardless of event definition.


CONCLUSIONS
The Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea study has shown that there are values of RDI based on polysomnography that correspond to an increased rate of clinical symptoms in children ages 6 to 11 years.
Goodwin
James L
JL
Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. jamieg@resp-sci.arizona.edu
Kaemingk
Kris L
KL
Fregosi
Ralph F
RF
Rosen
Gerald M
GM
Morgan
Wayne J
WJ
Sherrill
Duane L
DL
Quan
Stuart F
SF
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*