Sleep positions in children with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives: To assess sleep positions in children with both Down syndrome (DS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and determine if there is a preferred sleep position by severity of apnea.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review of patients with both DS and OSA was performed. Caregivers reported sleep position utilized greater than 50% of observed sleep time. Accuracy of this report was confirmed through review of hypnograms from polysomnography studies.

Results: Eighty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Median body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 and 56% of patients had a prior tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. The mean obstructive AHI (OAHI) was 25.33 with 90.4% having severe OSA, 9.6% having moderate OSA, and no patients having mild OSA. Reported sleep positions were skewed towards lateral/decubitus (82.9%) compared to prone (11.0%) and supine (6.1%). This was consistent with hypnogram data where 71% of total sleep time in lateral/decubitus positions compared to prone (13%) and supine (6%). The median changes in sleep position per patient was 5 (IQR: 3-6). Lower BMI (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.32-1.13) and tonsillectomy (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 7.7-18.19) were associated with lower OAHI. Sleep position was not associated with age (p = 0.19), sex (p = 0.66), race (p = 0.10), ethnicity (p = 0.68) nor history of tonsillectomy (p = 0.34). Preferred sleep position was not correlated with OAHI (p = 0.78, r = 0.03) or OSA severity (p = 0.72, r = 0.03).

Conclusions: This study highlights the possibility that children with DS may have preferential sleep positions that cater to optimized airflow in the context of OSA although further prospective study is needed.