Changes of oxygenation in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To explore the changes of oxygenation in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods A total of 141 children in Capital Institute of Pediatrics from Jul. 2009 to Mar. 2010 were included in this study. Apnea hypopnea index(AHI) 5 was the diagnostic criterion for children with OSAHS. The children were divided into OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group. We compared the oxygenation indexes between OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group and between NREM period and REM period in OSAHS group. Results There were significant differences in nadir pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2) and oxygen desaturation index(ODI) between OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group(Z = -3.64 and-5.67,P 0.01). There was no significant difference in mean SpO2 between OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group(Z = -0.90,P 0.05). There were significant differences in ODI and desaturation time per hour between rapid eye movement(REM) period and non-rapid eye movement(NREM) period in OSAHS group(Z = -5.568,Z = -5.937,P 0.05). There were no significant differences in maximum oxygen desaturation and maximum oxygen desaturation time between REM period and NREM period in OSAHS group(t = 0.364,t = 1.868,t = -0.33,P 0.05). Conclusion Oxygen desaturation happens in children with OSAHS, and frequency of oxygen desaturation is higher and time of oxygen desaturation is longerin in REM period thand in NREM period.