Evaluating the impact of adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing on parental sleep

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the impact of adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on parental sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and child quality of life.

Study design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Pediatric patients aged 2 to 10 years with SDB and suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requiring adenotonsillectomy were identified at a single tertiary-care pediatric otolaryngology hospital. Parental daytime sleepiness and quality of sleep were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Child quality of life, in the context of suspected OSA, was evaluated by the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Survey (OSA-18), pre- and postoperatively. Paired-samples t tests were conducted to analyze data.

Results: Forty-seven patients with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 4.9 (2.2) years, participated. Mean (SD) parental age was 35.5 (4.6) years. Statistically significant decreases of 2.1 points were observed between preoperative and postoperative parental mean global ESS (P = .007; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-3.6) and mean total PSQI (P = .001; 95% CI: 0.9-3.1) scores. A statistically significant improvement (41.6 points) was observed between preoperative and postoperative on mean OSA-18 scores (P < .0001; 95% CI: 35.7-47.6).

Conclusions: Adenotonsillectomy performed in the pediatric population for SDB, with suspected OSA, can positively impact parental daytime sleepiness and sleep quality in addition to pediatric quality of life.

Level of evidence: 2 Laryngoscope, 130:232-237, 2020.