Similar to previous reports, both new actigraph brands were found to have good sensitivity (to detect sleep), but poorer specificity (to detect wake). Study results also suggest that researchers should adjust the scoring algorithm/sensitivity depending on a study's design (e.g., young children vs. adolescents, healthy children vs. youth with SDB). Further, inter-device reliability was poor, suggesting the need for caution when comparing results across studies that use different brands of actigraphic devices.

Objective Retrospective studies have limitations in predicting perioperative risk following adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Few prospective studies exist. We hypothesized that demographic and polysomnographic (PSG) variables would predict respiratory and general perioperative complications. Study Design Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting Pediatric tertiary center. Subjects and Methods Consecutive children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for OSAS within 12 months of PSG were evaluated for complications occurring within 2 weeks of surgery. Results There were 329 subjects, with 27% <3 years old, 24% obese, 16% preterm, and 29% with comorbidities. In this higher risk population, 28% had respiratory complications (major and/or minor), and 33% had nonrespiratory complications. Significant associations were found between PSG parameters and respiratory complications as follows: apnea hypopnea index (rank-biserial correlation coefficient [r] = 0.174, P = .017), SpO2 nadir (r = –0.332, P <.0005), sleep time with SpO2 <90% (r = 0.298, P <.0005), peak end-tidal CO2 (r = 0.354, P <.0005), and sleep time with end-tidal CO2 >50 mm Hg (r = 0.199, P = .006). Associations were also found between respiratory complications and age <3 years (r = –0.174, P = .003) or black race (r = 0.123, P = .039). No significant associations existed between PSG parameters and nonrespiratory complications. A model using age <3 years, SpO2 nadir, and peak CO2 predicted respiratory complications better than the American Academy of Pediatrics or American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation guidelines but was imperfect (area under the curve = 0.72). Conclusion Thus, PSG predicted perioperative respiratory, but not nonrespiratory, complications in children with OSAS. Age <3 years or black race are high-risk factors. Present guidelines have limitations in determining the need for postoperative admission.

Rationale: Positive airway pressure therapy is frequently used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children. However, it is not known whether positive airway pressure therapy results in improvements in the neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with childhood sleep apnea. Objectives: We hypothesized that positive airway pressure therapy would be associated with improvements in attention, sleepiness, behavior, and quality of life, and that changes would be associated with therapy adherence. Methods: Neurobehavioral assessments were performed at baseline and after 3 months of positive airway pressure therapy in a heterogeneous group of 52 children and adolescents. Measurements and Main Results: Adherence varied widely (mean use, 170 6 145 [SD] minutes per night). Positive airway pressure therapy was associated with significant improvements in attention deficits (P , 0.001); sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (P , 0.001); behavior (P , 0.001); and caregiver-(P ¼ 0.005) and child-(P , 0.001) reported quality of life. There was a significant correlation between the decrease in Epworth Sleepiness Scale at 3 months and adherence (r ¼ 0.411; P ¼ 0.006), but not between other behavioral outcomes and adherence. Behavioral factors also improved in the subset of children with developmental delays. Conclusions: These results indicate that, despite suboptimal adherence use, there was significant improvement in neurobehavioral function in children after 3 months of positive airway pressure therapy, even in developmentally delayed children. The implications for improved family, social, and school function are substantial. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00458406).Keywords: continuous positive airway pressure; obstructive sleep apnea; sleepinessThe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects up to 4% of children (1). In most children, OSAS is associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and improves after adenotonsillectomy (2). However, a significant proportion of children have residual OSAS postoperatively (3). Furthermore, many children with OSAS have other underlying conditions, such as obesity or Down syndrome. In these children, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is usually used as the second line of treatment (2). Although CPAP is now being used commonly in children, only a handful of studies have evaluated its efficacy.If left untreated, OSAS may lead to substantial comorbidities. In particular, childhood OSAS has been shown to be associated with behavioral disturbances and learning deficits (4). The effect of PAP therapy in treating these neurobehavioral deficits in children is unknown. We therefore prospectively evaluated changes in neurobehavioral parameters, including symptoms of attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleepiness, behavior, and quality of life, at baseline and after 3 months of PAP in children with OSAS. We hypothesized that children treated effectively with PAP, including children with developmental delays, would show improvements in neurobehav...

Study Objectives: Although unattended ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) is frequently performed in adults, few studies have been performed in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of comprehensive, ambulatory PSG, including electroencephalography, in school-aged children in the home environment. Methods: A total of 201 children, born premature with birth weights of 500-1,250 grams, currently aged 5-12 years and living in Canada and Australia, underwent unattended ambulatory PSG. Results: PSG was initially technically satisfactory in 183 (91%) cases. Fourteen studies were satisfactory when repeated, resulting in an overall satisfactory rate of 197 (98%). Artifactfree signals were obtained for ≥ 75% of recording time in more than 92% of subjects, with the exception of nasal pressure, which was satisfactory for ≥ 75% of recording time in only 67% of subjects. However, thermistry signals were satisfactory for ≥ 75% of recording time in 92% of subjects, and some measure of airfl ow was present for ≥ 75% of recording time in 96% of subjects. Children slept very well, with a long total sleep time (534 ± 73 [mean ± SD] minutes), high sleep effi ciency (92% ± 5%), and low arousal index (9 ± 3/h). Parents and children reported a high rate of satisfaction with the study. Conclusions: This large, international study has shown that comprehensive, unattended, ambulatory PSG is feasible, technically adequate and well-tolerated in school-aged children when performed under research conditions. Further studies regarding the cost effi cacy of this approach, and generalizability of the fi ndings to a clinical population, are warranted. Keywords: polysomnography, sleep study, ambulatory, home, child Citation: Marcus CL, Traylor J, Biggs SN, Roberts RS, Nixon GM, Narang I, Bhattacharjee R, Davey MJ, Horne RS, Cheshire M, Gibbons KJ, Dix J, Asztalos E, Doyle LW, Opie GF, D'ilario J, Costantini L, Bradford R, Schmidt B. Feasibility of comprehensive, unattended ambulatory polysomnography in school-aged children. J Clin Sleep Med 2014;10(8):913-918.