Quality of Life in Pediatric OSA: A First UK Study Using CHQ-PF 28

Objective: To assess the quality of life of children with obstructive sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing.

Study Design: Prospective observational survey before and following intervention.

Settings: A tertiary, academic pediatric specialty clinic serving an inner-city population of multiethnic background (St Mary's Paediatric ENT Clinic, Paddington, London).

Patients: Consecutive series of children referred by their GPs for sleep-disordered breathing/obstructive sleep apnea. Eligibility criteria included age from 1 to 14 years and referral for snoring, mouth breathing, and disturbed sleep pattern. Exclusion criteria included Down syndrome, neurological abnormalities, cleft palate, other significant comorbidity, and non-English speaking primary caretaker. Control group: Age- and sex-matched children from local schools.

Interventions: Tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy.

Main Outcome Measures: Summary Physical and Psychosocial Health Scales of the Child Health Questionnaire (PF-28), Apnea/Hypopnea Index, and Minimal O₂ Desaturation questionnaires were analyzed for data quality and completeness, items/scale correlation, internal consistency and discriminant validity, interscale correlation, and reliability. External validity was assessed by comparison with a control group of children from local schools, age and sex adjusted. All measurements were repeated following intervention. Correlation of quality of life measurements with Apnea/Hypopnea Index and Minimal O₂ Desaturation levels was assessed.