title: Obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms in Japanese people with Down syndrome.
abstract: This study evaluated the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms and assessed the relationship with obesity or unusual sleep postures in Down syndrome patients in Japan. We obtained the demographic characteristics, sleep postures, and obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms experienced by 90 people as reported by their caregivers. Although 71% reported snoring and 59% arousals, obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms were not significantly different between obese and non-obese participants. The youngest age group had the fewest obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms, especially symptoms of snoring. The odds for arousal, nocturia, and apnea tended to be higher in the unusual sleep-postures group. Unusual sleep postures were most frequent in the group 6-15 years of age. People with Down syndrome might sleep in unusual postures to avoid upper airway obstruction caused by other anatomical factors. For nurses and other health professionals working in mainstream service, it is important to screen all persons with Down syndrome for symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly those six years of age and older, and to refer them for further evaluation for sleep disorders.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, Ube Frontier University, Ube, Japan.|Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chishaki
authors.affiliation: Kirameki Project Career Support Center, Fukuoka, Japan.|Sleep Apnea Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkusa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawatari
authors.affiliation: Sleep Apnea Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University Graduate School, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizaka
authors.affiliation: Sleep Apnea Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Down syndrome; arousal; obstructive sleep apnea; sleep disordered breathing; snoring; unusual sleep posture