Een onderzoek naar het gebruik van de Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire als screeningstool voor obstructief slaapapneusyndroom bij kinderen met ADHD

A study on the use of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with ADHD Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common childhood sleep disorder in which sleep is disrupted by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. An increased presence of OSAS in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (25-30%) has been reported in the literature. Detection and treatment are not only important for good sleep but can also reduce the symptoms of ADHD and avoid metabolic risks later in life, such as cardiovascular disease. Given the high prevalence and serious consequences of OSAS, early diagnosis is crucial. However, a screening tool for OSAS that has been validated in a population of children with ADHD is not known. Objective: To investigate whether an existing screening questionnaire for OSAS (PSQ – Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire) is also suitable for screening for OSAS in children with ADHD. Method: In a first small-scale study, the PSQ was administered to children with ADHD, after which the data were analyzed. Results: A shortage of participants, a high number of missing data, and a lack of variation in the data did not allow us to deduce whether the PSQ is suitable as a screening tool for OSAS in children with ADHD. Descriptive analysis of the answers to the questionnaire and the score on the PSQ showed a possible influence of the intake of ADHD medication and the presence of one or more comorbidities. The underlying mechanisms are still unclear and need to be further investigated in future research.