Weight gain in children after adenotonsillectomy: undesirable weight gain or catch-up growth?

Abstract

Objective/background: Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are consequential conditions with significant overlap in the pediatric population. Early studies documented catch-up growth in underweight children after adenotonsillectomy, but more recent studies suggested that normal and even overweight children may experience excess weight gain after adenotonsillectomy. We performed a secondary analysis of Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT) data to test whether there was an effect of early adenotonsillectomy on undesirable weight gain, defined as an increase in body mass index (BMI) Z score in an already overweight or obese child or a change from baseline normal or underweight to a follow up BMI Z score classified as overweight.

Patients/methods: We included 398 children with moderate OSA and complete anthropomorphic data randomized to adenotonsillectomy versus watchful waiting with supportive care. Pearson's χ² and independent t tests were used to compare demographic, activity, sleep and anthropomorphic characteristics between children who did and did not experience undesirable weight gain over seven months. Logistic regression was used to test for an association between adenotonsillectomy and undesirable weight gain, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, Black race, average parent-reported weekly activity level, mother's body mass index, average nightly sleep duration and either baseline or follow up AHI (in separate models).

Results: Forty three percent (n = 172) experienced undesirable weight gain. A similar percentage of children in both arms experienced undesirable weight gain (45% adenotonsillectomy vs 41% watchful waiting). Neither unadjusted nor adjusted regression analysis demonstrated a significant effect of adenotonsillectomy on undesirable weight gain.

Conclusion: Adenotonsillectomy may not be an independent risk factor for undesirable weight gain in children.

Keywords: Adenotonsillectomy; Child; Obesity; Pediatric; Sleep apnea; Weight gain.