Pulmonary dysfunction in overweight and obese children with obstructive sleep apnoea

INTRODUCTION: Overweight and obese children are at risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and abnormal pulmonary function (PF). AIM: Investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), OSA on PF in children. MATERIALS & METHOD: Seventy‐four children were recruited. Mixed obstructive apnoea‐hypopnea index (MOAHI), BMI, oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), forced expiratory volume one second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC) and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured. RESULTS: Twenty‐four and thirty children had mild OSA and moderate‐to‐severe OSA respectively. BMI correlated negatively with SpO(2) nadir (r = −.363, p = .001). FVC, FEV(1) and nadir SpO(2) values decreased with OSA severity (p < .001). The odds of a child with OSA having an abnormal spirometry was 3.16 (95% CI: 1.08, 9.22). There was significant association between FeNO and AHI (r = .497, <.001). DISCUSSION: Overweight and obese children with OSA have significant abnormalities in pulmonary function independent of BMI. OSA severity and elevated FeNO also correlated with diminishing lung function.