Obstructive sleep apnea and insulin resistance in children with obesity

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Because existing data investigating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insulin resistance (IR) are inconsistent, we examine OSA and IR in a pediatric obesity clinic. METHODS: Children (2–18 years) in the obesity clinic (2013–2017) undergoing polysomnography (PSG), anthropometric measurements, and fasting laboratory tests were included. Linear regression assessed OSA defined by the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) with the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Secondary aims assessed oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and age interactions with HOMA-IR. Logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed to investigate optimal oAHI and ODI cutoffs relative to HOMA-IR ≥ 3. RESULTS: Eighty children were included (mean age, 11.4 ± 4.0 years; 56% female; 46% Caucasian; median body mass index [BMI], 34.6 kg/m(2) [interquartile ratio, 29.9–40.1], median BMI z-score, 2.5 [interquartile ratio, 2.3–2.8); 46% with oAHI ≥ 5 events/h. HOMA-IR was higher in the OSA group (oAHI ≥ 5 events/h): 5 vs 3.8 (P = .034). After adjustment for sex, race, and BMI z-score, oAHI ≥ 5 events/h retained significance with HOMA-IR (P = .041). HOMA-IR increased in older children (age ≥ 12 years) when adjusting for waist circumference z-score and waist-height ratio (statistical interaction, P = .020 and .034, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic showed optimal cut points of oAHI and ODI for predicting significant IR 4.9 (area under the curve, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.83; sensitivity, 0.76; specificity, 0.66) and 4.6 (area under the curve, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.80; sensitivity, 0.70; specificity, 0.67), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinic-based pediatric cohort with obesity, OSA is associated with increased IR even after adjusting for confounders including obesity defined by the BMI z-score. Age ≥ 12 years was associated with AHI relative to IR after adjustment for waist circumference z-score and waist-height ratio. Significant IR could be discriminated by oAHI ≥ 4.9 with moderate sensitivity/specificity. Future studies are needed to verify these findings. CITATION: Siriwat R, Wang L, Shah V, Mehra R, Ibrahim S. Obstructive sleep apnea and insulin resistance in children with obesity. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(7):1081–1090.