Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea in obese children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tao, Catharina, Fortune, Mary, Webb, Emma A. and Polychronakis, Theofilos (2025) Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea in obese children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews. ISSN 1526-0542

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Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is prevalent among children with obesity and is associated with long-term morbidity.  Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for OSA among children (0–18) who are overweight/obese. Risk factors reviewed included overall adiposity, regional fat distribution, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, sex, ethnicity, and airway neuromuscular tone. PubMed and Embase were searched in July 2025. Random-effects models were applied.  Results: Forty-seven studies were included. Children with OSA had higher BMI z-scores (mean difference (MD) = 0.30), neck circumference (MD = 2.19 cm), and waist circumference (MD = 5.99 cm) compared to obese children without OSA. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and male sex associated with higher OSA odds (adenoid odds ratio (OR) = 3.28, tonsil OR = 4.16, Male OR = 1.51). Studies also suggested airway neuromuscular tone and non-Caucasian ethnicity as risk factors, but further research is needed.  Conclusion: OSA in obese children is likely to be multifactorial. Assessment accounting for multiple factors may improve screening accuracy and guide targeted interventions in this high-risk population.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	adenotonsillar status,fat distribution,obesity,obstructive sleep apnoea,screening,pediatrics, perinatology, and child health,pulmonary and respiratory medicine ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2735
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2026 10:37
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2026 10:37
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101832
DOI:	10.1016/j.prrv.2025.12.003

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