Home Respiratory Polygraphy and Spirometry in Normal Weight and Children with Obesity Suspected for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Are There Any Associations?

Regula Corbelli; Constance Barazzone; Carole Grasset Salomon; Maurice Beghetti; Albane B R Maggio

doi:10.1155/2023/1532443

Home Respiratory Polygraphy and Spirometry in Normal Weight and Children with Obesity Suspected for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Are There Any Associations?

Pulm Med. 2023 Jan 31:2023:1532443. doi: 10.1155/2023/1532443. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Regula Corbelli¹, Constance Barazzone¹, Carole Grasset Salomon², Maurice Beghetti³, Albane B R Maggio⁴

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, Division of Pediatric Specialties, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Switzerland.
² Pediatric Research Platform, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Division of Pediatric Specialties, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Switzerland.
⁴ Pediatric Obesity Consultation, Division of Pediatric Specialties, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.

Abstract

Aim: It is known that children and adolescents with obesity are more prone to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and that their lung function may show some disturbance. Literature is scarce about potential associations; therefore, we aimed to study the relationship between OSAS, lung function, and adiposity in a population of children suspected of OSAS. Material and Methods. We performed home respiratory polygraphy and spirometry in all subjects. The relationships between body mass index z-score (zBMI), polygraphy, and spirometry data were analyzed.

Results: We recruited 81 subjects aged between 5 and 16 years, 63% being obese. 43.2% of subjects were diagnosed with OSAS (32.1% mild, 4.9% moderate, and 6.2% severe). We found no correlation between respiratory polygraphy and the zBMI. The mean spirometric value FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC ratio z's were normal in all subjects, whereas FVC z's and FEV₁/FVC ratio z's were significantly positively related for obesity and negatively for normal weight (p < 0.05). FEV₁ z's was inversely correlated to the percentage of analyzed time passed below 90% of SpO₂ (r = -0.224, p = 0.044). All subjects with FEV₁ (n = 8) and/or FVC (n = 9) z's below the lower limit for normal (LLN) had an AHI ≥ 1 (FEV₁: p = 0.001; FVC: p < 0.001), especially subjects with normal weight (FEV₁: p = 0.003; FVC: p = 0.010).

Conclusion: When comparing normal-weight children and adolescents with obesity, the prevalence of OSAS but not spirometric values was strongly related to BMI z-score, probably because obesity engenders advanced puberty and an accelerated growth spurt. FEV₁ was more frequently <LLN in normal-weight children, while obese subjects presented low FEV₁/FVC ratio z's and FEF_25-75% z's. Moreover, all subjects with abnormal spirometric values were suffering from at least mild OSAS, again more frequently in normal-weight subjects.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Body Mass Index
Child
Child, Preschool
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Pediatric Obesity*
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / diagnosis
Spirometry
Vital Capacity