title: Craniofacial characteristics related to daytime sleepiness screened by the paediatric daytime sleepiness scale.
abstract: The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess daytime sleepiness in Chinese adolescents using the Paediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) and to identify associations between PDSS answers and craniofacial characteristics. A group of 265 Chinese adolescents aged 11-17 years self-completed the PDSS, and their extra- and intra-oral craniofacial characteristics were recorded. Among the participants, 59.7% (157) experienced one or more daytime sleepiness events. No significant associations were found between total PDSS scores and the craniofacial parameters, but when PDSS answers were assessed at the item level, several craniofacial characteristics were found to be positively associated with daytime sleepiness, such as hypertrophic tonsils (P = 0.05), a relatively large tongue (P < 0.01), a bilateral Class II molar relationship (P < 0.05) and increased overjet (P < 0.05). A short lower face (P < 0.01) and a convex profile (P < 0.01) were found to be negatively associated with daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness is commonly reported among Chinese adolescents seeking orthodontic treatment and there are potential associations between the condition and craniofacial characteristics. An assessment of daytime sleepiness is recommended to orthodontists in young patients presenting with hypertrophic tonsils, relative large tongues and Class II tendency malocclusions, and appropriate medical referrals should also be considered.
authors: Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Yanqi
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Cleft Center (Craniofacial Orthodontics), United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Angus C H
authors: AC
authors: Ho
authors: Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery Cleft Center (Craniofacial Orthodontics), United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Ricky W K
authors: RW
authors: Wong
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Urban
authors: U
authors: Hägg
authors: Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Colman P J
authors: CP
authors: McGrath
keywords: Adolescents; Chinese; craniofacial abnormalities; sleepiness.