Abstract
Aim: Aim of our study was to evaluate the role of Anterior Active Rhinomanometry (RAA) in the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) in children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in order to avoid the overuse of Polysomnography (PSG)
Methods: Children with SDB,referred to our Pediatric Sleep Centre, underwent Sleep Clinical Record (SCR), Nocturnal Pulsossimetry, PSG and RAA. RAA was performed 3 times for each patient and the mean value of Total Nasal Resistance and Nasal Respiratory Flow has been recorded.
A group of patients without a history of SDB and respiratory diseases was evaluated with SCR and RAA and considered as a control group.
Results: A group of 29 children (55,2% male, age 4-16, mean age 7,0±2,9) with SDB was enrolled and compared with a control group of 16 patients (43,8% male, age 4-16, mean age 6,9±2,22). Significant differences in term of SCR (mean value 6,18±2 vs 9,18±2,45; p<0,05), Total Nasal Resistance (mean value 0,86±0,41 Pa/cm3/s vs 0,47±0,16 Pa/cm3/s; p<0,05) and Nasal Respiratory Flow (mean value 212,3±104,53 ml/s vs 328,00 ml/s; p<0,05) were found.
Children with SDB were divided in two groups depending from the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI): group 1 (AHI<5 ev/h; n=20) and group 2 (AHI≥5 ev/h; n=9). Significant difference was found beetween Group 1 and Group 2 in term of McGill score (30% vs 89,9% positive McGill score; p<0,05). Group 2 showed a significant correlation between Nasal Resistance and AHI (p<0,05; r=0,732) and the threshold value of Nasal Resistance of 1,12 Pa/cm3/s (ROC Curve: AUC=0,868; specificity 89%; sensibility 95%) was found.
Conclusions: RAA if associated with SCR and nocturnal pulsossimetry could improve the diagnosis of OSAS when PSG is not available.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015