Abstract
The prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) has been extensively explored in paediatric populations. Although exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of HS in a dose-dependent fashion, the potential contribution of air quality to HS remains unclear.
6,000 questionnaires were distributed to 6-12-year-old children attending public schools in 5 distinct neighborhoods within the city of Tehran that were pre-selected based on air quality measures. HS was defined as loud snoring ≥3 nights·week−1. Information regarding clinically- and family-related HS risk factors was also obtained. Descriptive statistics followed by adjusted risk assessments were conducted.
Among the 4,322 completed datasets (72%), the prevalence of HS was 11.6%. Partition of HS rates according to air quality neighborhood characteristics revealed significantly higher HS frequencies among children residing in neighborhoods with greatest pollution (24.5% and 12.1% in South and Central neighborhoods vs. 7.0% and 7.7%.in North and East neighborhoods, respectively). The regional variance in HS was primarily accounted for by an integrated measure of air quality, even after controlling for other risk factors.
Environmental air quality emerges as a significant and potentially modifiable contributor to the risk for developing HS during childhood.
- ERS