title: Early occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea in infants and children with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing, hypoxemia, and sleep architecture in a cohort of infants and children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and normal or mildly impaired lung function in stable clinical condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cystic Fibrosis Unit of a university hospital and pediatric sleep laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 children (aged 6 months to 11 years) with CF in stable condition and 18 healthy age-matched control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nocturnal sleep and cardiorespiratory monitoring was performed using a full polysomnographic recording in a sleep laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sleep architecture and respiratory variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although awake oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2) values were similar in the 2 groups (98%), the CF group had significantly lower values of nocturnal mean SaO2. The apnea-hypopnea index was significantly higher in the CF group compared with the controls (mean [SE], 7.3 [1.3] vs 0.5 [0.4], respectively, P < .001), particularly in preschool-aged children and in children with upper airway abnormalities. In addition, 28 (70%) of the 40 children with CF had mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (defined as an apnea-hypopnea index >2). Children with CF compared with controls also had reduced sleep efficiency (CF group vs controls mean [SE], 80% [41%] vs 88% [13.1%], P < .001), rapid eye movement sleep duration (11% [0.9%] vs 13% [1%], P < .05), and increased number of arousals per hour (11.0 [10] vs 8.2 [0.7], P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed an early occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea in children with CF in stable condition, associated with a mild level of sleep disruption. Early routine nocturnal respiratory monitoring is advised in children with CF.
authors.affiliation: Bronchopneumology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. luciaspicuzza@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spicuzza
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sciuto
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Rosa
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017286:Polysomnography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010100:Oxygen