PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kim Van Hoorenbeeck
AU  - Hilde Franckx
AU  - Luc Van Gaal
AU  - Kristine Desager
AU  - Wilfried De Backer
AU  - Stijn Verhulst
TI  - Sleep-disordered breathing and metabolic dysregulation in obese children before and after weight loss
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p3053
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3053.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3053.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Introduction: A high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is found in childhood obesity. SDB is a known risk factor for developing the metabolic syndrome. Weight loss has been suggested to be the treatment of choice in obese children.Aim: In this study we focused on the effects of weight loss and SDB on common metabolic parameters.Methods: Consecutive obese children between 10 and 18 years were recruited. They followed a treatment program with diet, increased physical activity and psychological support. All children underwent a baseline sleep screening and a control study after 4-6 months of treatment in case of diagnosed SDB. A fasting blood assay was performed baseline and after 4-6 months.Results: 84 children and adolescents with a median age of 15.1 years (9.5-18.9) were included. Mean BMI z-score was 2.73±0.41. 44% of the subjects had SDB. Respiratory disturbance index correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r=-0.34; P=0.002), ASAT (r=0.33; P=0.003) and ALAT (r=0.35; P=0.001). No correlations were found for glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol. After weight loss treatment all metabolic parameters improved and only 8% of the patients had residual SDB. Improvements in ASAT and ALAT were mediated by improvements in BMI. Improvements in oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were associated with an increase in HDL-cholesterol (r=0.49; P=0.003).Conclusion: This study confirms the link between ASAT, ALAT, HDL-cholesterol and SDB baseline. HDL-cholesterol improved after weight loss in association with improvements in ODI.