Development of Chairside Screening for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Presentation Category
Literature Review
Introduction/Context/Diagnosis
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) is a sleep disorder affecting 1-3% of the population yet it often goes undiagnosed. If left untreated, POSA can have cognitive and physical consequences on the developing child. Methods to help identify patients who may be suffering from POSA prior to the expense of a sleep study can aid in developing a reasonable suspicion of POSA. Policy by the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and American Academy of Pediatrics encourages dentists and dental hygienists to be involved in the screening process of POSA because dentists are more likely than physicians to spot adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The goal of our research is to create an evidence-based protocol for screening for referral of POSA in University of the Pacific’s pediatric clinic by assessing the utility of various proposed clinical criteria.
Methods/Treatment Plan
Using key terms such as pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disorder, polysomnography, sleep disturbed breathing, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, mallampati score and apnea hypopnea index in PubMed and Google Scholar search engines, a pertinent literature was obtained. The search was run with no language, place or time restrictions.
Results/Outcome
We included seven articles that focused on potential screening criteria to facilitate the decision if a pediatric patient should be referred for POSA. Potential screening criteria found to have no relationship to POSA are age and sex. Assessments such as history of snoring, Mallampati score, Brodsky classification and multiple questionnaire have significant correlation with POSA.
Significance/Conclusions
These four key assessments were selected due to their predictive ability as well as feasibility in clinic in terms of training, time, and reliability. Results of the screening can be used to provide knowledge to parents and give clinicians confidence in their referral to a sleep specialist. Implementing a standardized chairside POSA screening protocol in the University of the Pacific’s pediatric clinic will help identify pediatric patients potentially suffering from obstructive sleep apnea so they can be sent for further sleep apnea testing.
Format
Event
Development of Chairside Screening for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) is a sleep disorder affecting 1-3% of the population yet it often goes undiagnosed. If left untreated, POSA can have cognitive and physical consequences on the developing child. Methods to help identify patients who may be suffering from POSA prior to the expense of a sleep study can aid in developing a reasonable suspicion of POSA. Policy by the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and American Academy of Pediatrics encourages dentists and dental hygienists to be involved in the screening process of POSA because dentists are more likely than physicians to spot adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The goal of our research is to create an evidence-based protocol for screening for referral of POSA in University of the Pacific’s pediatric clinic by assessing the utility of various proposed clinical criteria.
Comments/Acknowledgements
Key words: pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, questionnaire, sleep disorders, mallampati score, Brodsky classification, sleep disordered breathing, pediatric dentistry