Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Children

Last updated: May 29, 2023
Sponsor: Université Libre de Bruxelles
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Sleep Apnea Syndromes

Treatment

a clinical examination and anamnesis

Clinical Study ID

NCT05896176
P2022/377 / CCB B4062022000198
  • Ages 2-8
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

To be able to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in a patient, polysomnography (PSG) remains the gold standard. However, this is expensive, involves a considerable workload and is quite complex. Additionally, the wait time from when the patient was referred for PSG to when it is done can take up to 5-6 months. Simpler screening tools have therefore been developed, such as questionnaires. The questionnaires are subjective tools completed by the parents based on the observation of the child's sleep, behavioral problems, etc. These questionnaires have shown usefulness in sorting out patients to be referred to a sleep specialist, an Oto-Rhino-Laryngologist (ENT) or an orthodontist before performing a PSG in view of the difficulty of access to it. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) is a tool that was developed by Chervin and his colleagues to screen children with OSAS. This questionnaire is a reliable and scientifically validated tool. In addition, the PSQ is the most accurate questionnaire from a screening point of view. However, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) considers that the questionnaires, among others, the PSQ, are not sensitive enough to detect OSAS in a child. They offer an anamnesis as well as a clinical examination to be carried out in addition to the few questions taken from the PSQ that they consider useful for screening patients at risk. The investigators can therefore ask themselves the following question: "Is the PSQ sufficient on its own or do the investigators obtain better results when the investigators carry out a complete anamnesis as well as a clinical examination? "

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 2-8 years

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who do not speak French

Study Design

Total Participants: 150
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: a clinical examination and anamnesis
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 09, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
July 01, 2023

Study Description

  1. Bibliographic research methodology

    In order to have a relevant bibliographic base, the investigators selected articles with a high level of evidence and the most recent.

    For this, the investigators carried out their research on the following sites and databases: Pubmed, Sciences Direct, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Tripdatabase and Cible +.

    Several research equations have allowed us to have satisfactory results. When the results were too broad, the investigators restricted their search to meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The following keywords were used: "Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire", "dentistry", "sleep apnea", "child", "surveys and questionnaires", "sleep apnea, obstructive", "diagnosis accuracy"

    The most relevant articles that allowed them to establish the research question were found on Pubmed and Sciences Direct. (appendix n°1) Concerning Google Scholar, Tripdatabase and Cible +, the articles found were either already selected articles or were not sufficiently targeted on the subject.

  2. Agreement of the ethics committee

    The study is a prospective observational study carried out within the Erasmus HUB site and therefore required the approval of its ethics committee. The required documents were introduced on the DycoFlow platform on August 31, 2022. They gave their agreement to submit my request to the ethics committee on September 20, 2022. The Erasmus ethics committee gave its agreement on September 9, 2022. December 2022.

  3. Study methodology

I. Inclusion and exclusion criteria

The investigators decided to limit the study to children aged 2 to 8 years. Indeed, interceptive orthodontic treatment must be performed before the 9th birthday to be reimbursed if necessary. Moreover, if ENT surgery is necessary (tonsillectomy for example), it is advantageous to perform it as soon as possible. quickly as possible to avoid the long-term consequences of mouth breathing. The investigators also excluded patients whose parents did not speak French.

I. Objective of the study

The study will therefore consist in comparing the results using on the one hand the PSQ only, on the other hand the clinical examination and the anamnesis as well as the three together and see if the results are comparable.

II. Realization of questionnaires

  • Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire translated into French (validated translation)

  • Anamnesis

  • Clinical examination

Concerning the anamnesis and the clinical examination, the investigators based themselves on the recommendations given by the AAPD. Indeed, some studies have shown that the questionnaire gives better results when combined with a clinical examination.

III. Data collection

The study took place within the Erasmus site HUB, at the Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) during pediatric dentistry consultations.

The parents of the patients were approached from the beginning of the consultation in order to integrate the study. Oral explanations concerning the purpose and conduct of the study were given in addition to informed consent. In addition, the children also received appropriate informed consent explaining the course of the study if the age and maturity of the child permitted it.

The PSQ and the anamnesis are carried out during the consultation with the parent. Once the consultation is over, the clinical examination is carried out with the consent of the child.

If the PSQ turned out to be positive, i.e. the child obtained a score equal to or greater than 7 positive responses out of 22, a liaison letter was sent to refer the child to an ENT specialist. The investigators also asked for an e-mail report of the consultation. This was also the case for the anamnesis and the clinical examination.

Connect with a study center

  • Tania Vanhée

    Brussels, 1000
    Belgium

    Active - Recruiting

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