Sleep-disordered breathing in a population-based cohort: behavioral outcomes at 4 and 7 years.
Pediatrics. 2012 Apr; 129(4):e857-65.Ped

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Examine statistical effects of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptom trajectories from 6 months to 7 years on subsequent behavior.

METHODS

Parents in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children reported on children's snoring, mouth breathing, and witnessed apnea at ≥2 surveys at 6, 18, 30, 42, 57, and 69 months, and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 4 (n = 9140) and 7 (n = 8098) years. Cluster analysis produced 5 "Early" (6-42 months) and "Later" (6-69 months) symptom trajectories ("clusters"). Adverse behavioral outcomes were defined by top 10th percentiles on Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total and subscales, at 4 and 7 years, in multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The SDB clusters predicted ≈20% to 100% increased odds of problematic behavior, controlling for 15 potential confounders. Early trajectories predicted problematic behavior at 7 years equally well as at 4 years. In Later trajectories, the "Worst Case" cluster, with peak symptoms at 30 months that abated thereafter, nonetheless at 7 years predicted hyperactivity (1.85 [1.30-2.63]), and conduct (1.60 [1.18-2.16]) and peer difficulties (1.37 [1.04-1.80]), whereas a "Later Symptom" cluster predicted emotional difficulties (1.65 [1.21-2.07]) and hyperactivity (1.88 [1.42-2.49]) . The 2 clusters with peak symptoms before 18 months that resolve thereafter still predicted 40% to 50% increased odds of behavior problems at 7 years.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, population-based, longitudinal study, early-life SDB symptoms had strong, persistent statistical effects on subsequent behavior in childhood. Findings suggest that SDB symptoms may require attention as early as the first year of life.

Links

Publisher Full Text
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
pediatrics.aappublications.org
PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Bonuck K
Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. karen.bonuck@einstein.yu.edu
Freeman K
No affiliation info available
Chervin RD
No affiliation info available
Xu L
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAge DistributionChildChild BehaviorChild Behavior DisordersChild, PreschoolCluster AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesEnglandFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornMaleParentsPopulation SurveillancePregnancyRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsSex DistributionSleep Apnea SyndromesSurveys and QuestionnairesTime Factors

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22392181