Allergic Rhinitis Increases Risk for Moderate-to-Severe Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A recent study has highlighted allergic rhinitis (AR) as a significant predictor of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children.

Conducted at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, the research analyzed 263 pediatric patients diagnosed with OSA in 2020, assessing factors contributing to disease severity.

Polysomnography was performed to determine each patient’s apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂), essential markers of OSA severity. The study found that nearly half (48.7%) of the patients had moderate-to-severe OSA, with 60.8% experiencing moderate-to-severe hypoxemia.

After adjusting for various factors, AR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.96) and male gender (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.03-3.06) were identified as independent risk factors for more severe OSA. Notably, AR also emerged as the sole predictor of hypoxemia, further emphasizing its role in worsening sleep-disordered breathing.

These findings underscore the necessity of early detection and management of AR in children to reduce the risk of severe OSA and its complications. Individualized therapeutic approaches for pediatric OSA patients, particularly those with AR, could improve outcomes and mitigate progression to more severe disease stages.