Assessment of obstructive sleep apnea risk in different types of cleft lip and palate.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in different types of cleft using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The influence of sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and history of adenotonsillectomy surgery were also evaluated.

Methodology: Parents or legal guardians of 195 patients with nonsyndromic cleft lip, lip and palate, and isolated palate aged from 5 to 18 years (9.11±3.09 years) were invited to answer the PSQ. The sample included 94 individuals with unilateral or bilateral complete cleft lip and palate, 56 individuals with cleft lip, and 45 individuals with isolated cleft palate. The frequency of high and low risk was estimated for the complete sample. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between sex, age, cleft type, adenotonsillectomy surgery, and BMI with the occurrence of high-risk of OSA. Significance was considered at 5%.

Results: A high risk of OSA was observed in 51.3% of the sample. The high risk of OSA was present in 51.8%, 53.1%, and 46.6% of subjects with cleft lip, cleft lip and palate, and isolated cleft palate, respectively. History of adenotonsillectomy surgery was a predictor of high risk of OSA (OR=6.94). The other variables were not associated with OSA high risk.

Conclusion: Different cleft types had similar frequency of OSA high risk. Patients with history of adenotonsillectomy surgery still presented high risk of OSA.