Loudness of snoring, not apnea-hypopnea index, is associated with hyperactivity behavior in snoring children and adolescents.

Study Objectives: It is unknown whether loudness of snoring or hypoxic burden are related to higher hyperactivity scores in habitually snoring children and whether this effect is impacted by the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). This study investigates the prevalence of hyperactivity in children with habitual snoring and the independent effects of loudness of snoring, as reported by the parents, hypoxic burden and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome's severity (OSAS) on hyperactivity, as measured by the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Hyperactivity Index (CPRS-HI).

Methods: Children with habitual snoring aged 3-18 years were recruited for an overnight polysomnography reporting apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and hypoxic burden, acoustic rhinometry, clinical examination and parental questionnaires assessing snoring loudness and CPRS-HI.