OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA DURING CHILDHOOD IN TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN SAUDI ARABIA

Background:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder with the prevalence of 1-5%. OSA in there is a paucity of data regarding OSA in children in our region. This is particularly important as OSA is associated with neurocognitive deficits and cardiovascular complication. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of OSA among children referred to specialized centre in Saudi Arabia. Methods:A retrospective chart reviewstudy involving children ≤18 years, identified from pediatric tertiary care centrewho had an overnight polysomnography (PSG).OSA was diagnosed if the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) washigher than 1event per hour. Results: There were 12 participants included.The mean age was 8 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 1.7). Of these, 6/12 (50%) had OSA. Compared with the non-OSA group, the OSA group had a lower sleep SpO2 during REM sleep (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Children with clinical symptoms should be referred for OSA diagnosis. A history of snoring may be useful indicators to facilitate a PSG, especially in resource-limited settings.