OSAS in children: correlation between endoscopic and polysomnographic findings.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate polysomnographic findings with clinical history of apnea, the degree of obstruction caused by tonsillar hypertrophy, and to age group.


METHODS
267 children with a clinical diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) were evaluated. Patients were divided into preschool- and school-age categories, and subdivided in 3 additional groups, according to tonsillar hypertrophy. Polysomnographic findings were compared within groups.


RESULTS
34% of children had history of OSAS and normal polysomnographic findings. Tonsillar hypertrophy was correlated to more severe apnea among preschool-age children, but not among school-age children. Among children with tonsillar hypertrophy, more severe apnea was observed in preschool-age children than in school-age children.


CONCLUSIONS
There is little correlation between polysomnographic and clinical findings in children with OSAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Adenotonsillar hypertrophy leads to more severe polysomnographic patterns in preschool-age children. More severe apnea is observed in younger children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy than in older ones.
Valera
Fabiana C P
FC
Division of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. facpvalera@uol.com.br
Avelino
Melissa A G
MA
Pettermann
Márcia B
MB
Fujita
Reginaldo
R
Pignatari
Shirley S N
SS
Moreira
Gustavo A
GA
Pradella-Hallinan
Márcia L
ML
Tufik
Sérgio
S
Weckx
Luc L M
LL
D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology