Reduced exercise capacity in Greek children with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease that is increasingly recognized among pediatric population. The exercise capacity of adults with OSAS has been demonstrated to be impaired, but there are no data about pediatric exercise response.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary response to exercise in children with OSAS and to correlate exercise capacity and severity of OSAS.

Methods: Twenty-seven children with habitual snoring (Group A) (mean age 10.5 ± 1.8 years) referred for overnight polysomnography and 13 apparently healthy controls (mean age 11 ± 1.5 years) were recruited. According to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) group A consisted of 15 (55.6%) children with mild OSAS and 12 (44.4%) with moderate-severe OSAS. All children completed a maximal ramping cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on cycle ergometer.

Results: According to CPET children with OSAS had significantly lower VO2max (40.3 ± 8.4 ml/kg/min vs. 47.6 ± 7.9 ml/kg/min, P = 0.013) significantly lower VO2max (%) (77.7 ± 15 vs. 92.9 ± 10.5, P = 0.002), lower maximum heart-rate at peak exercise (86.6 ± 8.8 beat/min vs. 90.6 ± 7.2 beat/min) and higher systolic blood pressure level at peak exercise (145 ± 27.4 mmHg vs. 143.92 ± 20 mmHg) compared to control group.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that young patients with OSAS, even with mild OSAS, had reduced exercise capacity as compared to control group.