Association Between Severe Obesity and Pediatric Obstructive Apnea-A Retrospective Case Series.

Objective: To investigate the impact of severe obesity on the severity of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary stand-alone pediatric hospital.

Methods: Consecutive children with obesity (≥95th percentile body mass index [BMI]) who underwent full-night polysomnography between January 2021 and December 2021 were analyzed. Patients were categorized into obesity (≥95th percentile BMI and <120% of the 95th percentile) and severe obesity (≥120% of the 95th percentile BMI). The association between severe obesity and severe OSA was assessed using multiple logistic regression.

Results: The study included 282 patients with a median age of 9.2 years (interquartile range 5.9-12.3), 63% male, and 65% Hispanic. In total, 53% were severely obese. Severely obese children had a higher prevalence of severe OSA (53% vs 33%, P < .001) and very severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 24; 24% vs 11%, P = .006). Multiple logistic regression revealed that severe obesity was associated with severe OSA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-6.53; P < .001) after adjusting for age, sex, and tonsillar hypertrophy. Among 170 patients who underwent posttonsillectomy polysomnography, 29% exhibited residual OSA, with 19% having residual severe OSA. Class 3 severe obesity was associated with residual OSA (aOR = 4.05, 95% CI = 1.09-15.00).

Conclusion: Children with severe obesity face substantial sleep disturbances and a heightened risk of residual OSA following adenotonsillectomy.