TY - JOUR T1 - The prevalence of sleep apneas in children with epilepsy and their impact on seizure control JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P2271 AU - Maria Gogou AU - Katerina Haidopoulou AU - Evangelos Pavlou AU - Efterpi Pavlidou AU - Maria Hatzistylianou AU - Maria Eboriadou Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2271.abstract N2 - Background: Sleep disturbances are a significant comorbidity in children with epilepsy.Aims and Objectives: Our aim is to identify the prevalence of sleep apneas (SA) in children with epilepsy and investigate the relationship of SA to seizure control.Methods: The study included 2 groups of children. Group A consisted of 30 randomly selected children with idiopathic epilepsy (IE), while group B consisted of 20 healthy children. All children underwent full clinical evaluation and overnight polysomnography. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and polysomnographic data were statistically analyzed.Results: There was no difference between 2 groups with regards to mean age, gender, BMI and the existence of hypertrophic tonsils or/and adenoids. The mean value of Obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index (OAHI) was significantly higher in group A in comparison to group B (2,78±1,18 VS 1,34±0,89, p<0.05). The mean value of Central Apnea Index was also higher in group A, but the difference was not significant (0,48±0,42 VS 0,31±0,31, p=0,13). Totally 11 of 30 children with IE (36,7%) had a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS), whereas OSAHS was present in only 2 children (10%) of group B (p<0,05). The prevalence of OSAHS was significantly higher in children with refractory epilepsy in comparison to children with good seizure control (66,7% VS 13,3%, p<0,01). Type of epilepsy (generalized-partial), gender and BMI did not consist significant risk factors for OSAHS among children with IE.Conclusions: Epilepsy and SA often coexist in childhood. There seems to be a close relationship between seizure control and prevalence of OSAHS, which needs further investigation. ER -