Abstract
Study objectives: The amount of evidence of the role of sleep-related breathing disorders (SBD) in paediatric cardiovascular disease and premature adult cardiovascular disease is rising, proving that not only obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) but also primary snoring (PS) is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular (CVS) morbidity. The link between SBD and premature CVS morbidity in paediatric patients is still underexamined.

Methods: Our study group consisted of 80 patients examined in the Sleep Laboratory of University Hospital Martin (Slovakia) between 2019 and 2022. The patients underwent a standard all-night polysomnography (PSG). 
Results: We determined and graphically demonstrated an increased predisposition to higher BP in patients with OSA and PS compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001) but not in patients with OSA compared to PS (p > 0.05). In the group of patients with PS, the systolic pressure percentile correlated with duration of snoring during the night (r = 0.4; p < 0.05). A logistic regression of the whole dataset showed correlation of AHI and average nocturnal heart rate (ANHR, r = 0.36; p < 0.001) as well as snoring and ANHR (r = 0.32; p < 0.001). This analysis showed that snoring correlates strongly with total arousal index (TAI, r = 0.73, p < 0.001) and AHI correlates strongly with TAI (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). 
Conclusion: The presented data confirm the association of SBD with risk factors leading to higher CVS morbidity in children. We proved CVS impairment not only in patients with OSA but also in patients with PS (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 48). Text in PDF www.lekarsky.herba.sk.
KEY WORDS: obstructive sleep apnoea, primary snoring, hypertension, premature cardiovascular morbidity.
Lek Obz 2024, 73 (6): 200-207

Lukas REMEN, Filip OLEKSAK, Dominika DVORSKA, Andrea FRICOVA, Peter DURDIK, Anna DURDIKOVA, 
Daniela KOSORINOVA, Peter BANOVCIN  

Clinic for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Martin, Slovakia, head P. Banovcin, MD, CSc, Prof.