PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Albert M Li
AU  - Hung K So
AU  - Chun T Au
AU  - Crover Ho
AU  - Joseph Lau
AU  - Siu K Ng
AU  - Victor J Abdullah
AU  - Tai F Fok
AU  - Yun K Wing
TI  - Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in Chinese children: a two-phase community study
AID  - 10.1136/thx.2010.134858
DP  - 2010 Nov 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 991--997
VI  - 65
IP  - 11
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/65/11/991.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/65/11/991.full
SO  - Thorax2010 Nov 01; 65
AB  - Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in Chinese children using a two-phase community-based study design.Methods Children from 13 primary schools were randomly recruited. A validated OSAS screening questionnaire was completed by their parents. Children at high risk of OSAS and a randomly chosen low-risk group were invited to undergo overnight polysomnographic study and clinical examination. The the sex-specific prevalence rate was measured using different cutoffs (obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index ≥1, ≥1.5, ≥3 and ≥5 and obstructive apnoea index ≥5) and risk factors associated with OSAS were evaluated with logistic regression.Results 6447 completed questionnaires were returned (out of 9172 questionnaires; 70.3%). 586 children (9.1%; 405 boys and 181 girls) children belonged to the high-risk group. A total of 619 (410 and 209 from the high and low-risk group, respectively) subjects underwent overnight polysomnagraphy. Depending on the cutoffs, the prevalence rate of childhood OSAS varied from 4.8% to 40.3%. Using the International Criteria of Sleep Disorders version II, the OSAS prevalence for boys and girls was 5.8% and 3.8%, respectively. Male gender, body mass index z-score and increased adenoid and tonsil size were independently associated with OSAS.Conclusions The prevalence rate of OSAS in children was contingent on the cutoff used. The inclusion of symptoms as a part of the diagnostic criteria greatly reduced the prevalence. A further prospective and outcome study is needed to define a clinically significant diagnostic cutoff for childhood OSAS.