The spectrum of obstructive sleep apnea in infants and children with Down Syndrome.

Objective: Describe the spectrum of OSA across time in infants and children with Down syndrome.
Methods: Retrospective records review of children who underwent formal polysomnography (PSG) in one of two Australian tertiary sleep centres over selected 3.5-year periods. 152 children were identified, then all sleep study and treatment records were retrieved for the lifetime of the child through 2018.
Results: 3.8 ± 3.2 studies (range 1-17) were retrieved per child and 38.2% had mild disease at worst. Children having only 1 study were more likely to have a normal or mild result than those having ≥2 (chi-square 11.25, p-value 0.0008) Studies were more often severe in children age <2 compared to those ≥2 years, (chi-square 12.87, p = 0.005). After age 2 years, OSA severity increased with age. Amongst 91 (56.4%) children with ≥2 studies, 71 (78.0%) had moderate or severe disease at some time. Studies evaluating the effects of surgery (most often adenotonsillectomy) showed resolution of disease to mild or normal in 53.3%. Where ≥2 studies were evaluated, the last study polarised towards normal or mild disease 40 (44.0%), or treatment titrations 34 (37.4%) with moderate or severe disease in 17 (18.7%).
Conclusions: In a tertiary sleep unit, a full spectrum of sleep disordered breathing in Down syndrome was seen from infancy onwards. Children having only one study were more likely to have normal results. Children with multiple studies reflected disease surveillance, including follow-up after treatment interventions.
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