Prevalence of sleep apnea in children and adolescents in Colombia according to the national health registry 2017–2021

OBJECTIVE: To describe the sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with sleep apnea, both central and obstructive, in Colombia between 2017 and 2021. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, epidemiological study using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems as search terms for sleep apnea, based on SISPRO, the Colombian national health registry. Stratification by gender and age groups was performed. We also generated data of the amount of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed. A map of prevalence by place of residency was performed. RESULTS: National records report 15200 cases of SA between 2017 and 2021, for an estimated prevalence of 21.1 cases by 100000 inhabitants in 2019 the year with the most cases (4769), being more frequent and in the 6 to 11 age group and in males, with a male to female ratio of 1.54:1. The number of cases declined in 2020 and 2021. The map showed a concentration of cases in the more developed departments of the country. DISCUSSION: This is the first approximation to a nation-wide prevalence of sleep apnea in Colombia which is lower to what is found in the literature worldwide, including studies performed in Latin America and in Colombia, this could reflect sub diagnosis and sub report. The fact that the highest prevalence was found in males and in the 6–11 age group is consistent with reports in literature. The decrease in cases in 2020 and 2021 could be related to the COVID-19 pandemic impact in sleep medicine services.