An estimated 1% to 5% of children have sleep-disordered breathing related to obstructive sleep apnea, with a smaller proportion of children having central or mixed sleep apnea. Improved screening for sleep-disordered breathing in the general pediatrics clinic, coupled with effective management strategies, has the potential to have wide-ranging benefits on the patient’s long-term health and development.
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Sleep is central to a healthy childhood, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)—the disruption of normal respiratory patterns and ventilation during sleep—is implicated in several behavioral and physical health issues. Although we now have strong evidence that chronic, unchecked obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, obesity, and neuropsychiatric and developmental issues, the full scope of the effect of SDB on health remains underappreciated by many clinicians (Table 1).
Sleep research has rapidly expanded and evolved in the past few...
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