DEVELOPMENTAL-TRENDS OF SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING IN PRADER-WILLI-SYNDROME - THE ROLE OF OBESITY

Polysomnographic recordings of 43 children and adults with Prader-Will i syndrome (PWS) were inspected and classified into 5 age groups. The effect of age and body mass index (BMI) on measures of breathing, oxyg en saturation, and sleep efficiency were analyzed. Body mass index (BM I) increased significantly between early childhood and preadolescent g roups. Subjecting the data to analysis of variance showed an overall s ignificant effect of BMI but no age effect on breathing parameters and oxygen saturation. Increased BMI was associated with decreased oxygen saturation and with higher apnea/hypopnea index. Sleep efficiency ind ex was significantly lower in adults than in young children, preadoles cent, and adolescent groups. These findings emphasize the role of obes ity in the development of sleep-related breathing abnormalities and no cturnal oxygen desaturation in patients with PWS. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.