Can Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Experience the Same Heart Risks as Adults?

A study conducted at the Soroka Medical Center in Israel suggests that children with obstructive sleep apnea may suffer the same risk of cardiovascular problems as adults with OSA.

Children’s obstructive Sleep Apnea begins in the first year of life, generally the result of enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Children with OSA are subject to the same potential health risk as adults with OSA. Consequently, children with OSA may have cognitive or cardiovascular problems due to their condition as well as other medical problems.

The Israeli study involved seventy children between the ages of two and twelve who had not had surgery to remove enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between systemic inflammation and the risk of heart problems among children. Researchers found that the levels of N Terminal pro B type Natriuretric Peptide (a marker for ventricular strain) and C Reactive Protein (a marker for inflammation) were significantly higher in the 46 children with OSA, than the other children without OSA.

The most interesting result of the study was that once the children had their tonsils and adenoids removed they had lower levels of both markers than the control group of children without OSA.

The results of this study seem to indicate that children with OSA, who have increased levels of C reactive protein, should have a cardiovascular assessment. Additionally, research indicates that physicians are in need of ways to better diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnea at a very young age; hopefully further studies will provide more helpful information in the future.




Return to the Social Security Disability SSI Benefits Blog




Other posts

Disability Determination
Are only blind individuals approved for disability the first time they apply ?
Depression and giving up on Social Security Disability
Do I need an attorney for disability ?
How does Social Security Determine if a Person can no Longer Work (residual functional capacity) ?
How long does it take to get social security disability hearing?