Assessment of cognitive learning function in children with obstructive sleep breathing disorders.
Sleep obstructive breathing disorders are frequent in children but the impact of sleep deprivation on the cognitive learning function is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To establish whether patients with sleep obstructive breathing disorders show any functional change in learning, memory and attention.


METHODS
Eighty-one children aged from 6 to 12 years were divided into 3 groups: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), n=24; primary snoring (PS), n=37; and control, n=20. The groups were assessed using learning (Rey) and psychological (Digit, Code, Letter Concealing, and Symbol) tests.


RESULTS
OSAS and PS children showed statistically significant worse performance on the variable A1 in Rey test (learning and memory) when compared with controls (p=0.011). PS children had an even worse performance on the variables A2, A4, AT and A6 compared to OSAS participants and controls (p=0.020;p=0.050;p=0.004,p=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Children with obstructive sleep breathing disorders, in particular PS, show worse Rey test scores. PS and OSAS children performed similarly in attention tests.
Hamasaki Uema
Sandra Fumi
SF
UNIFESP.
Nagata Pignatari
Shirley Shizue
SS
Fujita
Reginaldo Raimundo
RR
Moreira
Gustavo Antônio
GA
Pradella-Hallinan
Márcia
M
Weckx
Luc
L
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*