Obstructive sleep apnoea in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy: prospective study.

OBJECTIVE To determine clinical and baseline polysomnographic data on obstructive sleep apnoea secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy in Hong Kong Chinese children. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Fifty children (35 boys and 15 girls) suspected to have obstructive sleep apnoea were recruited between January 1999 and December 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Symptoms questionnaire, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and full-night polysomnography. RESULTS All patients had symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnoea. None were found to have clinical evidence of cor pulmonale. Forty-five (90%) of 50 children had obstructive sleep apnoea with a respiratory disturbance index of greater than five. Central and mixed apnoeas were rare. Tonsil size did not correlate with the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. CONCLUSION Symptoms and signs suggestive of obstructive sleep apnoea can lead to a high detection rate and confirmation of obstructive sleep apnoea by polysomnography.