Sleep architecture and polysomnographic respiratory profile of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate sleep architecture in children and adolescents with both cystic fibrosis (CF) and a clinical suspicion of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and to identify the respiratory polysomnographic profile of these patients.

METHODS

Parents or guardians of children with CF filled out a questionnaire designed to assess their clinical and sleep conditions. Children who were identified as having behaviors associated with SDB underwent polysomnography. After polysomnography, patients were grouped according to the obstructive apnea index (AI) obtained (either < 1 or ≥ 1), and a multiple correspondence factor analysis was used to analyze and identify the polysomnographic profile of patients.

RESULTS

Of the 74 patients who met inclusion criteria for this study, 67 underwent polysomnography, and 38 (56.7%) of the 67 patients showed an AI ≥ 1. Median age was 8 years. The group of patients with an AI ≥ 1 was characterized by total sleep time (TST) during stage 4 and rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep < 21 and 13%, respectively, REM sleep latency > 144 minutes, percentage of TST with pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) < 90% higher than 0.28 seconds, and an oxygen desaturation index higher than 0.92.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that clinically stable pediatric patients with CF have a high prevalence of SDB and present frequent sleep complaints, significant changes in sleep architecture, and episodes of oxygen desaturation during sleep.