Original Article

Clinical Symptoms and Polysomnographic Findings in Children and Adolescents with Neuromuscular Disorders Referred to the Sleep Center of Qazvin Children’s Hospital, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: Patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are at high risk for sleep problems, may lead to significant morbidity. Central sleep apnea (CSA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypopnea, and nocturnal hypoventilation are common in children with NMDs. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for evaluating and diagnosing sleep breathing disorders in children and adolescents with NMDs. This study aimed to evaluate clinical symptoms and PSG findings among them.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 22 children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger referred to the sleep department of Qods Children’s Hospital, Qazvin, Iran, between 2017 and 2022.

Results: PSG was performed in 22 children with NMD, with a mean age of 65 months. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was the most common diagnosis (45.4%). The most common sleep problems were sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) (86.4%), followed by restless sleep (9%). The mean sleep efficiency was 79.2%, and the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 22.2 events per hour of total sleep time (TST). Hypopnea, OSA, and CSA were observed in 36%, 22%, and 7% of patients, respectively. The mean oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was 12.5, and the mean arousal index was 22.7. The sleep architecture was mildly disturbed with a reduction in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Conclusion: SDB is prevalent among children and adolescents with NMDs. Based on the severity of symptoms, nonin-vasive ventilation (NIV) and medical treatments were initiated. PSG is essential for early diagnosis and management and may reduce morbidity and mortality of patients with NMDs.

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IssueVol 8 No 3-4 (2023): Summer-Autumn QRcode
SectionOriginal Article(s)
Keywords
Child; Neuromuscular diseases; Polysomnography; Sleep-disordered breathing
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1.
Jalilolghadr S, Taher-Ahmadi H, Parsarad E, Tehrani-Tarighat S. Clinical Symptoms and Polysomnographic Findings in Children and Adolescents with Neuromuscular Disorders Referred to the Sleep Center of Qazvin Children’s Hospital, Iran. J Sleep Sci. 2026;8(3-4):46-52.