Sleep-disordered breathing in a predominantly African-American pediatric population

The goal of this study was to characterize sleep and respiratory parameters in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) as compared to children without SDB. Data are from 198 children and adolescents referred for sleep center evaluation, 128 of whom were diagnosed with SDB. In children with SD B, obesity (> 95% wgt for age) was more common than being severely underwei ght (< 5% wgt for age), but only the older children with SDB were heavier t han age-matched normal sleepers. Children with SDB had increased EEG arousa ls; sleep architecture was not otherwise significantly different from the n on-SDB group. African-American children with SDB had significantly greater oxygen desaturation with obstructive events compared to Caucasian and Latin o children. It appears that the role of obesity as a risk factor for obstru ctive sleep apnea (OSA) increases in children above the age of 8-years. Add itionally, African-American children with SDB may be at increased risk for hypoxemia and cardiovascular consequences of SDB.