Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Underweight Children

Objectives To determine predictors of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in underweight children and to describe the demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic characteristics of an ethnically diverse population of underweight children with OSA. Study Design Case-control study. Setting University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center of Dallas Methods Underweight children aged 2 to 18 years who underwent a polysomnogram for suspected OSA between January 2014 and December 2020 were included. Underweight was defined as body mass index P < .05. Results An overall 124 children met inclusion criteria: mean age, 6.4 years; 50% female; 44% Hispanic, 31% African American, and 18% Caucasian. A total of 83 children had OSA (apnea-hypopnea index >= 1.0). Height was negatively correlated with OSA (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99; P = .02) while allergic rhinitis (odds ratio, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.24-7.08; P = .01) and tonsillar hypertrophy (odds ratio, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.42-8.02; P = .01) were predictors for the presence of OSA. No demographic or clinical characteristics were predictors for severe OSA. Conclusion Underweight children with OSA, as compared with those without OSA, are more likely to have decreased height, tonsillar hypertrophy, and allergic rhinitis. There are no predictors of severe OSA in underweight children. We recommend polysomnography for the diagnosis of OSA in symptomatic underweight children with large tonsils, especially when they have a history of allergies.