title: Reduced exercise capacity in Greek children with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease that is increasingly recognized among pediatric population. The exercise capacity of adults with OSAS has been demonstrated to be impaired, but there are no data about pediatric exercise response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary response to exercise in children with OSAS and to correlate exercise capacity and severity of OSAS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven children with habitual snoring (Group A) (mean age 10.5 ± 1.8 years) referred for overnight polysomnography and 13 apparently healthy controls (mean age 11 ± 1.5 years) were recruited. According to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) group A consisted of 15 (55.6%) children with mild OSAS and 12 (44.4%) with moderate-severe OSAS. All children completed a maximal ramping cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on cycle ergometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to CPET children with OSAS had significantly lower VO2max (40.3 ± 8.4 ml/kg/min vs. 47.6 ± 7.9 ml/kg/min, P = 0.013) significantly lower VO2max (%) (77.7 ± 15 vs. 92.9 ± 10.5, P = 0.002), lower maximum heart-rate at peak exercise (86.6 ± 8.8 beat/min vs. 90.6 ± 7.2 beat/min) and higher systolic blood pressure level at peak exercise (145 ± 27.4 mmHg vs. 143.92 ± 20 mmHg) compared to control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that young patients with OSAS, even with mild OSAS, had reduced exercise capacity as compared to control group.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Pediatric Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Labrini
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Damianidou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eboriadou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haidopoulou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Markou
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzimou
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kirvasilis
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontouli
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsanakas
authors.forename: Fani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology