Habitual Snoring in Primary School Children: Prevalence and Association with Sleep-Related Disorders and School Performance

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Sahin U., ÖZTÜRK Ö., ÖZTÜRK M., Songur N., Bircan A., AKKAYA A.

MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE, vol.18, no.6, pp.458-465, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000235895
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.458-465
  • Keywords: Habitual snoring prevalence, Sleep problem questionnaire, Sleep-related disorders, children, APNEA SYNDROME, AGE-CHILDREN, PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN, SYMPTOMS, ADOLESCENTS, BEHAVIOR, HISTORY, SAMPLE, ASTHMA
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) and its association with both day- and nighttime symptoms, school performance and behavioral disturbances in a sample of primary school children. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,605 children (819 boys and 786 girls) aged 7-13 years from 9 randomly selected primary schools located within the city limits of Isparta, Turkey. HS and sleep problems were assessed using a 55-item multiple-choice questionnaire. Results: Of the 1,605 questionnaires, 1,164 were fully completed and returned, giving a response rate of 72.5%. The overall prevalence of snoring was 38.9%, while HS accounted for 3.5%. The prevalence of HS among boys (25, 3.0%) was higher than among girls (16, 2.0%; chi(2) for trend: p<0.001, OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.01-3.66). There was an association between younger age and HS, as children aged 7-8 years had the highest prevalence (chi(2) for trend: 0.054, OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 0.81-4.22). Habitual snorers had more daytime and nighttime symptoms. Allergic symptoms, daytime mouth breathing, shaking the child for apnea, restless sleep and hyperactivity were significant and independent risk factors and sleep-related symptoms for HS. A significant and independent association was found between poor school performance and hyperactivity, nocturnal enuresis, tooth grinding and low parental/maternal education in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Children with HS were more likely to have sleep-related daytime and nighttime symptoms. No significant association was determined between HS and poor school performance. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel