Acoustical analysis of pediatric snoring: what can we learn?

Objective: Evaluate a database of pediatric patients who underwent snoring acoustical analysis for associations between snoring measurements, demographics, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) severity.

Study Design And Setting: A database of pediatric patients who underwent home testing with a polysomnogram device (SNAP Test, Glenview, IL) that includes acoustical snoring analysis was reviewed.

Results: Four hundred fifty-six patients were included (mean age, 6.87 years). Four hundred twenty-nine (94.1%) patients had measurable snoring. Snoring index (events/hr) (r = 0.2073; P < 0.0001) and maximal loudness (dB) (r = 0.2218; P < 0.0001) were directly proportional to the apnea/hypopnea index. Among patients without OSAHS (apnea index <1), increasing snoring index (r = -0.2102; P < 0.0001) and volume (P < 0.005 ANOVA) were associated with increasing oximetry desaturation events.

Conclusion: The majority of children evaluated had objective snoring. Increasing snoring index and loudness are associated with increased severity of OSAHS. In the absence of OSAHS, increasing snoring is associated with oxygen desaturations.

Significance: Pediatric snoring is objectively related to OSAHS severity.