Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy

The pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is well studied in the adult population, but not in the paediatric population, although it can be generally classified into anatomical, functional, and pathological factors, with the most common aetiology being adenotonsillar hypertrophy and a re...

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Main Author: Yan Kiu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-04-01
Series:Pediatric Respirology and Critical Care Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/prcm.prcm_21_21
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author Yan Kiu Li
author_facet Yan Kiu Li
author_sort Yan Kiu Li
collection DOAJ
description The pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is well studied in the adult population, but not in the paediatric population, although it can be generally classified into anatomical, functional, and pathological factors, with the most common aetiology being adenotonsillar hypertrophy and a reduced neuromuscular tone of the upper airway (UA) muscles. It is vital to understand the pathophysiology behind paediatric OSA, so that treatment can be optimized. Although the first-line treatment remains to be adenotonsillectomy (AT), this is not always effective, as indicated by the complex pathophysiology of OSA, leading to residual OSA post-AT. Myofunctional therapy (MFT), a newer non-invasive method focusing on re-educating, strengthening, and stimulating UA muscles, improves neuromuscular tone and prevents airway collapse, as supported by multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes after 2 months to 2 years of therapy have also been positive, with children experiencing improved sleep quality, reduced emotional distress and mood swings, and reduced daytime problems, whereas polysomnogram (PSG) results revealed a clinically significant reduced apnoea–hypopnoea index post-therapy. Major limitations include poor compliance for active MFT and the short duration of the studies with small sample sizes. Given the high prevalence rates of childhood OSA, it is essential that more high-quality studies and RCTs are performed to assess the effectiveness of this treatment method, with a specific emphasis on its long-term impacts, risks, and optimal treatment duration.
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spelling doaj-art-1c1cd8a1475943da868ca22f5afb49722025-08-20T02:18:59ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsPediatric Respirology and Critical Care Medicine2543-03432543-03512021-04-0152222810.4103/prcm.prcm_21_21Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional TherapyYan Kiu LiThe pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is well studied in the adult population, but not in the paediatric population, although it can be generally classified into anatomical, functional, and pathological factors, with the most common aetiology being adenotonsillar hypertrophy and a reduced neuromuscular tone of the upper airway (UA) muscles. It is vital to understand the pathophysiology behind paediatric OSA, so that treatment can be optimized. Although the first-line treatment remains to be adenotonsillectomy (AT), this is not always effective, as indicated by the complex pathophysiology of OSA, leading to residual OSA post-AT. Myofunctional therapy (MFT), a newer non-invasive method focusing on re-educating, strengthening, and stimulating UA muscles, improves neuromuscular tone and prevents airway collapse, as supported by multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes after 2 months to 2 years of therapy have also been positive, with children experiencing improved sleep quality, reduced emotional distress and mood swings, and reduced daytime problems, whereas polysomnogram (PSG) results revealed a clinically significant reduced apnoea–hypopnoea index post-therapy. Major limitations include poor compliance for active MFT and the short duration of the studies with small sample sizes. Given the high prevalence rates of childhood OSA, it is essential that more high-quality studies and RCTs are performed to assess the effectiveness of this treatment method, with a specific emphasis on its long-term impacts, risks, and optimal treatment duration.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/prcm.prcm_21_21apnoea–hypopnoea indexchildrenmyofunctional therapyobstructive sleep apnoeapaediatricpathophysiologytreatment
spellingShingle Yan Kiu Li
Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
Pediatric Respirology and Critical Care Medicine
apnoea–hypopnoea index
children
myofunctional therapy
obstructive sleep apnoea
paediatric
pathophysiology
treatment
title Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
title_full Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
title_fullStr Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
title_short Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Pathophysiology and the Role of Myofunctional Therapy
title_sort paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea pathophysiology and the role of myofunctional therapy
topic apnoea–hypopnoea index
children
myofunctional therapy
obstructive sleep apnoea
paediatric
pathophysiology
treatment
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/prcm.prcm_21_21
work_keys_str_mv AT yankiuli paediatricobstructivesleepapnoeapathophysiologyandtheroleofmyofunctionaltherapy