Abstract
Objective The aim of the study was to describe the
characteristics of otherwise healthy children with obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA; OSA-I) and children with OSA and obesity (OSA-II) treated
with long term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or noninvasive
ventilation (NIV) in 2019 in France. Design National
cross-sectional survey. Patients Children with OSA-I and OSA-II.
Main outcome measures Initiation criteria, age, adherence,
equipment and settings Results Patients with OSA-I and OSA-II
represented 6% (n=84, 71% males) and 10% (n=144, 72% males) of the
national cohort, respectively. The apnea-hypopnea index (63% vs 76%),
alone or combined with nocturnal gas exchange (25% vs 21%, for OSA-II
and OSA-I patients respectively) were used as initiation criteria of
CPAP/NIV. OSA-II patients were older at CPAP/NIV initiation (mean age
11.0±4.0 vs 6.8±4.5 years, p<0.001) and were treated for a
longer time (2.3±2.6 vs 1.3±1.5 years, p=0.008) than OSA-I patients. NIV
was used in 6% of OSA-I patients and 13% of OSA-II patients (p=0.142).
Nasal mask was the most used interface in both groups. Mean CPAP level
was higher in OSA-II patients as compared to OSA-I patients (8.7±2.0 vs
7.7±2.4 cmH 2O, p=0.02). Objective compliance was
comparable (mean use 6.8±2.6 vs 5.9±3.0 hours/night in OSA-I and OSA-II,
respectively, p=0.054). Conclusion Six and 10% of children
treated with long term CPAP/NIV in France in 2019 had OSA-I and OSA-II,
respectively. Both groups were preferentially treated with CPAP and were
comparable except for age, with OSA-II patients being older.