Measuring Quality of Life in Children With Obstructive Sleep Disorders

Abstract
THE TERM "obstructive sleep disorders" (OSDs) refers to the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing that is severe enough to cause clinical symptoms. This includes children with obstructive sleep apnea and children with upper-airway resistance syndrome in which the respiratory distress index is often normal on standard polysomnographic testing. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of pre–school-aged children.1-3 The incidence of upper-airway resistance syndrome is unknown, but it is likely more prevalent than obstructive sleep apnea. The leading cause of OSDs in children is adenotonsillar hypertrophy.3,4