Sleep-disordered breathing in a sample of 495 children in Southern Italy.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to investigate the occurrence of sleep-related breathing disturbances in a large cohort of school-aged children in Southern Italy, and to evaluate the association with anthropometric data and clinical findings of oropharynx and nasal airways.


METHODS
A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted with children from schools in Turi, Italy.


METHODS
A screening phase aimed to identify symptomatic children and clinical data from a cohort of 495 children by a self-administered questionnaire, and an instrumental phase for the definition of sleep-related disorders and clinical analysis of oral status were performed. According to the answers, children were classified into 3 groups: habitual snorers, occasional snorers, and non-snorers. All habitual snoring children underwent a polysomnographic home evaluation, and those with oxygen desaturation index (ODI) > 2 were considered for nocturnal polygraphic monitoring (NPM). Children with apnoea/ hypopnea index (AHI) > 3 received a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Moreover, a complete oral examination was performed.


RESULTS
A total of 436 questionnaires (response rate: 88.08%) were returned and scored (202 M, 234 F; Mean age ± Standard deviation: 6.2 ± 1.8); 18 children (4%) were identified as habitual snorers, 140 children (32%) were identified as occasional snorers, and 278 children (64%) were identified as non-snorers. The percentage of female children who were habitual snorers was higher than the percentage of male children (4.7% vs 3.6%). Habitual snorers had significantly more nighttime symptoms. OSAS was diagnosed in 2 children by NPM. A statistically significant association between snoring, cross-bite, open-bite and increased over-jet was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Habitual snoring and OSAS are significant problems for children and may be associated with diurnal symptoms. The presence of malocclusion increases the likelihood of sleep-related breathing disturbances.
Department of Dentistry and Surgery, University of Bari, Italy.
A P
AP
Cazzolla
V
V
Lacarbonara
B
B
Pellegrino
N F
NF
Testa
F
F
Fidanza
M G
MG
Lacaita
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000473:pathology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000150:complications; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology; D010031:Otitis / Q000150:complications; D057887:Overbite / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012913:Snoring / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications