title: The effect of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea on quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: Benefits of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with cerebral palsy could differ from those in otherwise healthy children. We examined the effects of OSA treatment by comparing a group of children with cerebral palsy treated with adenotonsillectomy or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) by nasal mask with controls who had not received treatment. Parents completed a structured questionnaire assessing change in their child's quality of life (QOL) and OSA symptoms after treatment, or between 6 months ago and the present time for controls. Fifty-one children were eligible, of whom 19 (37%) completed questionnaires: treatment group, n=10 (adenotonsillectomy 7, CPAP 3); and controls, n=9. The treatment group showed an improvement in OSA symptoms compared to controls, especially sleep disturbance (p=0.005), daytime functioning (p=0.03) and caregiver concern (p=0.03). Parental QOL score improved by a mean of 18% in the treatment group (p=0.06 for a difference from controls). Treatment of OSA in children with cerebral palsy leads to significant benefit in some aspects of health and QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland School of Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kai Hsun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014068:Tonsillectomy