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Association between Hepatic Steatosis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

Authors :
Marco Carotenuto
Anna Di Sessa
Maria Esposito
Anna Grandone
Pierluigi Marzuillo
Ilaria Bitetti
Giuseppina Rosaria Umano
Francesco Precenzano
Emanuele Miraglia del Giudice
Nicola Santoro
Source :
Children, Vol 8, Iss 11, p 984 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Background: Owing to the increasing rate of pediatric obesity, its complications such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have become prevalent already in childhood. We aimed to assess the relationship between these two diseases in a cohort of children with obesity. Methods: We enrolled 153 children with obesity (mean age 10.5 ± 2.66, mean BMI 30.9 ± 5.1) showing OSA. Subjects underwent a laboratory evaluation, a cardio-respiratory polysomnography (PSG), and a liver ultrasound. Results: All subjects had a clinical diagnosis of OSA based on the AHI > 1/h (mean AHI 8.0 ± 5.9; range 2.21–19.0). Of these, 69 showed hepatic steatosis (62.3% as mild, 20.3% as moderate, and 17.4% as severe degree). A strong association between ALT and apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was observed (p = 0.0003). This association was not confirmed after adjusting for hepatic steatosis (p = 0.53). By subdividing our population according to the presence/absence of steatosis, this association was found only in the steatosis group (p = 0.009). As the severity of steatosis increased, the significance of its association with AHI compared to the absence of steatosis became progressively stronger (all p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Hepatic steatosis seems to drive the association between OSA and ALT levels, suggesting a potential pathogenic role of OSA in NAFLD.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22279067
Volume :
8
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Children
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b442c1aa7324b26a33f665a31c1a6de
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/children8110984