title: Oximetry in obese children with sleep-disordered breathing.
abstract: Obesity is an important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and obese children with OSAS have frequently shown oxygen desaturations when compared with normal-weight children. The aim of our study was to investigate the oximetry characteristics in children with obesity and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
  
  
  
  Children referred for suspected OSAS were enrolled in the study. All children underwent sleep clinical record (SCR), pulse oximetry, and polysomnography (PSG).
  
  
  
  A total of 248 children with SDB were recruited (128 obese and 120 normal-weight children). Obese children showed higher oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and lower nadir oxygen saturation (nadir SaO2) compared to non-obese children (p < 0.05). ODI and nadir SaO2correlated with obesity (p < 0.05). The SCR evaluation showed that deep bite and overjet were more common among obese children (p < 0.05), whereas habitual nasal obstruction and arched palate were more common among non-obese children (p < 0.05). Furthermore, skeletal malocclusion and tonsillar hypertrophy were significant risk factors in obese children associated with severe desaturation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Obese children with SDB have a more significant oxygen desaturation; adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy is not the only important risk factor for its development but also the presence of malocclusions.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangelisti
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanaa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shafiek
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Jole
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabasco
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montesano
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Cystic Fibrosis Clinic and Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Sleep Disease Center, Child Neurology, NESMOS Department, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mariapia.villa@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Obesity; Obstructive sleep apnea; Oxygen desaturation