Relationship between adenoid size and severity of obstructive sleep apnea in preschool children.

Objective: To investigate the contributions of adenoid and tonsil sizes to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in normal-weight children in two age categories: preschool and schoolchildren.

Methods: Fifty-eight normal-weight (body mass index z-score<2) symptomatic children with OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 2) were evaluated. The patients were divided into two age categories: preschool (age<6; n=33) and schoolchildren (age ≥ 6; n=25). Polysomnographic findings and adenoid and tonsil sizes were compared. The relative contributions of body mass index and adenoid and tonsil sizes were also investigated with a regression analysis.

Results: Adenoid grade and apnea index correlated significantly in preschool children (r=0.45, p<0.01). On regression analysis, adenoid grade was a significant predictor of the apnea index in preschool children. The influence of adenoid hypertrophy decreased from preschool to schoolchildren. Tonsil size had little influence on the apnea index in either group.

Conclusion: Adenoid hypertrophy was a major contributor to OSAS in normal-weight preschool children. The upper airway morphology of younger children with OSAS differed from that of older children with OSAS.