Abstract
Aims: To compare the presence of neurocognitive disorders in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) or Primary Snoring (PS) and normal controls, and to investigate their correlation with duration of Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB).
Methods: 137 subjects (M/F 70/67; mean age 9.47±2.35 yrs) were studied: 58 children with SDB (19% PS,43.1% minimum OSAS,37.9% moderate-severe OSAS) and 79 control children. The SDB group underwent clinical evaluation, polysomnography and neurocognitive assessment based on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R). The control group was studied through a medical questionnaire and WISC-R.
Results: Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ), Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) and Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) were lower in SDB group than in control children (VIQ: 94.55±13.74 vs 115.84±10.63; PIQ: 100.10±13.25 vs 118.24±11.79; FSIQ: 96.66±11.66 vs 110.08±11.17) (p<0.001). On the basis of the presence of cognitive impairment (defined arbitrarily by a FSIQ <mean FSIQ standard population – 2SD),SDB group was subdivided in: Group A: 15 children with SDB and cognitive impairment; Group B: 43 children with SDB without cognitive impairment. The age of onset was earlier in Group A than in Group B (3.64±2.65 yrs vs 5.29±3.64 yrs; p<0.05); duration of disease was longer in group A than in Group B (5.21±2.57 yrs vs 3.44±2.43 yrs; p<0.02).
Conclusions: The incidence of neurocognitive disorders was greater in children with SDB than in controls. A significant correlation was present between neurocognitive impairment and both SDB's age of onset and duration of disease suggesting that early onset and a long duration of disease are the major risk factor.
- © 2011 ERS