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Obstructive sleep apnea in children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy
Author(s) -
Garcia John,
Wical Beverly,
Wical William,
Schaffer Leah,
Wical Thomas,
Wendorf Heather,
Roiko Samuel
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.13091
Subject(s) - epilepsy , obstructive sleep apnea , cerebral palsy , medicine , gross motor function classification system , pediatrics , physical therapy , psychiatry
Aim To examine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA ) in children with cerebral palsy ( CP ) and/or epilepsy. Method This cross‐sectional study employs the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire ( PSQ ), the Gross Motor Function Classification System ( GMFCS ), and chart review to identify symptoms of OSA in children presenting to a multi‐specialty pediatric healthcare institution. Results Two‐hundred and fifteen patients were grouped into those with epilepsy ( n =54), CP ( n =18), both ( n =55), and neither (comparison group, n =88). The comparison group comprised children with developmental disabilities but not children with typical development. Significantly increased PSQ scores (indicating increased risk of OSA ) were found among children with CP (58%) and CP with epilepsy (67%) than among the comparison group (27%; p <0.001 and p <0.0001 respectively). Children with both CP and epilepsy had a greater number of increased PSQ scores compared with CP alone ( p <0.05). Increased PSQ scores were observed with increasing CP severity as measured using the GMFCS . The PSQ identified more children at risk of OSA (46%) than did the medical record review for symptoms of OSA (8.2%, p <0.001). Interpretation Children with CP of greater severity or comorbid epilepsy are at increased risk of OSA . This study supports the routine questionnaire‐based assessment for OSA as a regular part of the care of all children with CP , especially in those with more severe CP and those with epilepsy.