Normal values for respiratory sleep polygraphy in children aged 4 to 9 years at 2,560 m above sea level

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome affects 1%–4% of all children worldwide. Currently, diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is based on sea‐level guidelines, without taking into account the altitude at which the populations live. It has been shown that at 3,200 m of altitude there is an increase in obstructive events in healthy children aged 7 to 16 years; on the other hand, it is known that SpO 2 dispersion between individuals becomes wider as altitude increases, a phenomenon that is more marked during sleep. About 17 million Colombians live in regions between 2,500 m and 2,700 m, as do significant populations in other Latin American countries. This research aimed to characterize respiratory polygraphy sleep parameters in healthy, non‐snoring children aged 4–9 years living at 2,560 m. We carried out home respiratory polygraphy in 32 children with a mean age of 6.2 years (range 4–9 years). The average recorded sleep time was 7.8 h, the median apnea–hypopnea index was 9.2/h, the obstructive apnea–hypopnea index had a median of 8.8/h (p5 4.2 to p95 17.9) and central apnea a median of 0.4/h. The median SpO 2 was 93% (p5 90.5 to p95 94) and transcutaneous CO 2 had a median of 39.4 mmHg (p531.7 to p95 42.3). The median oxygen desaturation index ≥ 3% was 11.2 and median oxygen desaturation index ≥ 4% was 3.9. Normal measurements for respiratory polygraphy obtained at sea level do not apply to children at altitude. If such guidelines are used, obstructive sleep apnea will be over‐diagnosed, resulting in unnecessary adenotonsillectomies, among other interventions.