PREVALENCE OF SLEEP BREATHING DISORDER IN CHILDREN IN A BRAZILIAN EQUATORIAL AND TROPICAL ZONES

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that between 10 and 12% of children snore habitually and that between 1 and 3% of children suffer from OSAS, with peak incidence between 2 and 5 years of age, when adenotonsillar hyperplasia is most common. Prevalence of OSAS is equal in boys and girls until adolescence, when a male preponderance becomes strikingly evident. Because full polysomnography in children is both costly and time-consuming, inexpensive and easily questionnaires has been used as a good predictor of sleep breathing disease (SBD). Objective. To verify the prevalence of SBD in children that live in an equatorial zone in Brazil compared to tropical zone. Methods: This preliminary study was carried out in elementary public schools, in Sao Luis City, Maranhao State, north of Brazil. Parents of 6 to 10 years old children answered the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children Questionnaire, adapted and validated for Brazilian Portuguese. We also analyzed questionnaires from elementary public schools, in Sao Paulo City, Sao Paulo State, south-east of Brazil. Parents of the same age children answered the same Questionnaire. We excluded children with genetic or neurological diseases in both studies. Results: From Sao Paulo, we analyzed 3023 questionnaires (51% girls). Six forty hundred (21%) had sleep disorders and 79/3023 (2.6%) or 79/640 (12%) had SBD. From Sao Luis, until now, we analyzed 136 questionnaires (57% girls). Forty six (34%) had sleep disorders and 25/136 (18.4%) or 25/46 (54%) had SBD. There was no difference by gender in all groups. Conclusion: The preliminary data showed a greater prevalence of SBD in Sao Luis (18.4%) compared to Sao Paulo (2.6%), a large city in the tropical zone. Economic and Social conditions, as poor health assistance and poor public health polices, may be more effective to impair sleep than the environmental features.