Respiratory and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 3 Years of Age of Neonates Diagnosed with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Objectives: Understanding the long-term consequences of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in neonates is crucial. A lack of consensus on diagnostic and treatment thresholds has resulted in limited research in this area. Our study aims to describe the trajectory of SDB in a cohort of high-risk neonates and their respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years of age, and explore the relationship between SDB during early infancy and neurocognitive outcomes. Methods: A retrospectively identified cohort of neonates with moderate-severe SDB were prospectively followed at 3 years of age. Data collected included last polysomnography (PSG) parameters up to the age of 3 years and sleep physician's recommendations, duration of CPAP use, compliance with treatment, timing of SDB resolution, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between important respiratory and sleep breathing parameters with the developmental outcomes. Results: Eighty neonates were included. Respiratory and developmental outcomes were available for 58 (72.5%) and 56 (70%) patients, respectively. In most patients (47/58, 81%), SDB had resolved by 3 years of age. Survival without major developmental delay was seen in 32/56 (57%), but a significant proportion (21/56, 37.5%) demonstrated global developmental delay. Following univariate analysis, primary diagnosis, apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) at the time of last PSG and SDB outcome was significantly associated with developmental delay. However, these associations were not seen in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Despite severity at baseline, SDB resolved in the majority of patients with time and treatment. Although statistically insignificant, logistic regression analysis identified some clinically important associations between neonatal SDB and neurodevelopmental outcomes.