Application of the Portuguese version of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 survey to children.
Despite the significant prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children, the diagnosis and treatment of this condition is still challenging due to the difficulties inherent to objectively assessing the disease's severity.


OBJECTIVE
To verify whether the Portuguese version of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) survey is as valid as its original version in English.


METHODS
Prospective study. The OSA-18 was translated into Portuguese, culturally adapted, and tested in the Portuguese population. The caregivers of 51 children (aged from 2 to 12 years) diagnosed with OSAS answered the OSA-18-pv survey. Statistical analysis was used to assess the psychometric properties of the survey.


RESULTS
Reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.821, confirming the survey's consistency. Converging validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, which revealed a statistically significant correlation between individual data and total results. The survey can be easily and quickly answered (7.26 min). The outcomes of the OSA-18-pv showed that quality of life was poor in 14 children with OSAS (28%), moderate in 22 (43%), and high in 15 (29%).


CONCLUSIONS
the OSA-18-pv is a valid tool and can be used to assess the impact on the quality of life of Portuguese children with OSAS.
Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave, Serviço de ORL, Guimarães.
Fausto Manuel Vigario Santos
FM
Fernandes
Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave, Guimarães.
Rafaela da Cruz Vieira Veloso
Rda C
Teles
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating