Obstructive sleep apnoea in children with epilepsy

Urquhart DS, Kehinde OO, Mclellan AE. Observational pilot study of reported

symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea in children with epilepsy. Dev Med Child

Neurol. 2016 Jun 18. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13173. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

AIM:

To estimate symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in children with epilepsy (CWE) compared with those in a typically developing comparison group. CWE are known to have poor sleep, with increased rates of OSA suggested.

METHOD:

The Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder scale of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ-SRBD) was used to estimate OSA symptoms, with scores ≤0.33 known to be highly sensitive and specific for OSA. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess EDS, with scores of 10 or above considered abnormal.

RESULTS:

Thirty-three CWE (21 males, 12 females) were studied (median age [interquartile range {IQR}] 9y [5-12]), along with 42 comparison children (20 males, 22 females; median age [IQR] 6y [4-8.5]). Fifty-five per cent of CWE scored 0.33 or higher on the PSQ-SRBD compared with 7% in the comparison group (p<0.001), and 30% of CWE had an abnormal ESS compared with 5% controls (p=0.003). Within the CWE cohort, PSQ-SRDB and ESS appeared higher in those taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs); although PSQ-SRBD score for CWE not on AEDs was higher than in the comparison group.

INTERPRETATION:

This study suggests higher rates of symptoms of OSA and EDS in CWE compared with typically developing children. AEDs may be a confounding factor, but do not alone account for the associations seen. Further studies including polysomnography to verify the presence (rather than suggestion by questionnaire) of OSA are warranted.

Courtesy of:  http://www.mdlinx.com/neurology/medical-news-article/2016/06/20/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-children-epilepsy/6723001/?category=sub-specialty&page_id=1&subspec_id=317