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Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea and increased risk for sickle cell disease morbidity

  • Pediatrics • Original Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Sickle cell disease (SCD) imparts an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in childhood. Studies of pediatric SCD have identified an increased risk for pain and neurologic complications with comorbid OSA. We determined the rate of a broad range of SCD-related medical complications to better characterize the spectrum of SCD complications related to OSA.

Methods

Retrospective chart review at a single hematology clinic identified 641 youth with SCD who received consistent screenings for OSA as part of routine hematological health maintenance visits over an 11-year period. Medical complication rates in the 136 children with OSA determined by polysomnography exams were compared to 136 matched controls at lower risk for OSA due to negative OSA screenings or exams.

Results

Children with SCD and OSA had higher overall rates of SCD complications than low OSA-risk controls; lung morbidity showed the largest effect size. Infection, cardiovascular, and neurologic complications occurred at higher rates in children with OSA. Children with comorbid OSA had higher rates of SCD complications both before and after OSA diagnosis.

Conclusions

OSA in children with SCD is associated with higher rates of a broad range of SCD complications, including pneumonia and acute chest syndrome. Routine screenings, diagnosis, and increased therapeutic intervention for children with comorbid OSA could decrease SCD morbidity.

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Acknowledgments

This project was completed as part of doctoral degree requirements of the first author. No funding was received for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1512 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Tal Katz & Jeffrey Schatz

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Carla W. Roberts

Authors
  1. Tal Katz
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  2. Jeffrey Schatz
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  3. Carla W. Roberts
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey Schatz.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Katz, T., Schatz, J. & Roberts, C.W. Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea and increased risk for sickle cell disease morbidity. Sleep Breath 22, 797–804 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-018-1630-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-018-1630-x

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