"Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with frequent arousal from sleep throughout the night. Therefore, children with SDB may not be attaining the physical and cognitive benefits of sleep and, as a result, may experience learning problems," said lead author Jamie Goodwin, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor at The University of Arizona College of Medicine. "With the increasing Hispanic population in the United States, understanding the occurrence of SDB and its effect on children of this ethnic group is essential."
Researchers from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the University of Minnesota School of Medicine utilized data from the prospective Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study (TuCASA) to determine the prevalence of reported symptoms associated with SDB in Hispanic and white children. Parents with children ages 4 through 11 attending Tucson area schools completed surveys on their children's sleeping habits as well as symptoms of SDB such as learning problems. This resulted in 1,214 completed surveys (556 white children and 658 Hispanic children). Survey results showed 11.4 percent Hispanic children snored as compared to 7.4 percent of white children. Excessive daytime sleepiness was reported in 9.6 percent of Hispanic children and 5.8 percent of white children. Witnessed sleep apnea was identified in 4.7 percent of Hispanic children and 1.9 percent of white children. In addition, 6.5 percent of parents with Hispanic children reported their children, mainly boys, had learning problems, while only 3.7 percent of parents with white children reported having children with learning problems. Regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, children with learning problems were more than twice as likely to snore and have EDS than children without learning problems.
"Even if SDB affects only one percent of children in the United States, there are millions of children who may have behavioral and learning problems as a direct result of SDB," said Dr. Goodwin. "Parents should be aware that SDB can be treated in a variety of ways and that children do not have to suffer from these problems."
"It is important for pediatricians and family physicians to recognize SDB as a significant factor in the health of school-age children and educate parents on the symptoms associated with SDB and treatment options available," said Udaya B. S. Prakash, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians.
CHEST is a peer-reviewed journal published by the ACCP. It is available on-line each month at www.chestjournal.org. ACCP represents more than 15,000 members who provide clinical, respiratory, and cardiothoracic patient care in the United States and throughout the world. ACCP's mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication.
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