Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education

Scientific literature and patient education texts

Back to Evidence & Education / Scientific Articles

Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Pilot Study

key information

source: The Laryngoscope

year: 2020

authors: Andrew J. Maroda, Matthew N. Spence, Stephen R. Larson, Jeremie H. Estepp, M. Boyd Gillespie, Atia J. Harris, Madhu P. Mamidala, Anthony M. Sheyn

summary/abstract:

Objectives/Hypothesis:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sickle cell disease (SCD) represent two complex disease processes. Current guidelines recommend that children with SCD receive polysomnography (PSG) after presenting with signs or symptoms of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB). Recent studies suggest a disproportionately elevated prevalence of SDB in the population of children with SCD, and traditional risk factors may not be evident within these patients. Further objective testing might be needed to screen all pediatric patients with SCD, even in the absence of overt signs or symptoms of OSA to prevent complications of both conditions.

Methods:
Institutional review board approval was obtained. An eight‐question OSA risk assessment screening questionnaire was presented prospectively to 100 consecutive patients with SCD in the pediatric hematology clinic regardless of complaints of SDB.

Results:
Out of 100 patients, 51 were female. The average age, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and I’M SLEEPY score of the entire cohort were 3.97 years, 15.97%, 55.4%, and 1.63%, respectively. Nineteen patients had a positive sleep apnea screening score and were referred for PSG. The average age BMI, BMI percentile, and I’M SLEEPY score for those 19 patients were 3.77%, 16.67%, 65%, and 3.95%, respectively. Ten patients completed PSG, with seven diagnosed with OSA.

Conclusions:
This pilot study demonstrates a higher incidence of SDB and OSA in children with SCD relative to the general pediatric population. Although more PSG reports and further testing is needed to determine whether the results hold, preliminary data indicate that children with SCD should at least undergo OSA screening in the office regardless of overt symptoms.

organization: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA; Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, USA

DOI: 10.1002/lary.29036

read more

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close

To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close