Work

Prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders in children with myelomeningocele and other spinal dysraphisms and risk factors

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) are an important problem in children with myelomeningocele (MMC) that can lead to health sequelae. More information is needed to implement an age- and risk factor-adapted screening approach. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we obtained sleep study data of children with MMC and other spinal dysraphisms who were evaluated for SRBD at the Tuebingen University Hospital between 2008 and 2018. Sleep studies were performed as a routine screening from 0 to 6 years of age or upon clinical suspicion in older children. RESULTS: 82 patients (40 girls, median age 2 years, 75 with Chiari malformation type II) were included; 20.7 % (95 % CI: 13.4 %-30.7 %) had SRBD in their first sleep study. Together with subsequent follow-ups (n = 60), 41.5 % (95 % CI: 31.4 %-52.3 %) had at least one sleep study showing SRBD. Higher functional lesion level and presence of syringomyelia (mostly cervical) were significantly associated with development of SRBD over time. Logistic regression analysis identified age (OR = 1.17, p = 0.003), obesity (OR = 3.48, p = 0.049), higher functional lesion level (OR = 4.94, p = 0.002) and snoring (OR = 10.18, p < 0.001) as risk factors for SRBD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SRBD is high in children with MMC and clinical signs of SRBD are often missing. Therefore, routine screening of all children with MMC is recommended.

Source: Sleep Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.108649