Effects of sleep-disordered breathing on physical traits, school performance, and behavior of Korean elementary school students in the upper grade levels.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the physical traits, school performance, and behavior of Korean children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).


METHODS
We recruited 679 students from an elementary school in Seoul, Korea. We used a survey to collect information on the absence or presence of SDB at both the child's preschool age and his or her current age and on the degree of behavioral disturbance. Physical traits and examination scores were also analyzed. We divided the children into 4 groups: non-SDB group, past SDB group, recent SDB group, and continuous SDB group. Comparisons between these four groups were conducted.


RESULTS
Sixty-one students were excluded because of incomplete information. The current body mass index was significantly higher in the past (19.7 +/- 3.6), recent (21.2 +/- 3.6), and continuous SDB groups (20.7 +/- 3.9) than in the non-SDB group (18.8 +/- 3.2), but only for male students (p < 0.001). The examination scores were not different among the four groups, but the behavioral disturbance scores were much higher in the past, recent, and continuous SDB groups than in the non-SDB group for both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Among these Korean elementary school students in the upper grade levels, the presence of current or past SDB appeared to influence the current body mass index in boys and the presence of behavioral disturbances in both genders. However, SDB was not associated with school performance.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
Jin Kook
JK
Kim
Ji Hye
JH
Lee
Seung-Hoon
SH
Lee
Seok-Chan
SC
Hong
Jae Hoon
JH
Cho
D000124:Achievement; D000465:Algorithms; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D010808:Physical Examination; D017286:Polysomnography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires