Abstract:

ObjectiveTo evaluate the validity and reliability of Chinese version of a short obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) screening scale in snoring children and its screening ability. MethodsThe scale was translated and retranslated. Consecutive snoring children (ages above 3 years) were prospectively recruited from the sleep and otolaryngology clinic in Shanghai Children's Medical Center affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2015 to December 2015. Prior to the overnight PSG test, the parents needed to review the child's sleep situation for nearly 6 months and filled out the scale themselves. PSG was taken as the gold standard for diagnosing of OSAS (obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) ≥ 5 times/h). The reliability and validity of the screening scale were tested and the screening efficacy of the OSAS was calculated with the cutoff points as OAHI 1 times/h, 3 times /h and 5 times/h. ResultsA total of 425 children were ultimately included in the study. Of them, 82 (19%) children were diagnosed as OSAS group by PSG (OAHI≥5/h), others were non-OSAS group. There was significant difference in the gender, nadir SpO2 and OAHI (P ＜0.05) between the OSA group and non-OSA group. The internal consistency of overall questionnaire was good（Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.785）. In the exploratory factor analysis, KMO was 0.783, Bartlett 's spherical test P ＜ 0.001, was suitable for factor analysis. Two factors (Q1~Q6 problem) were extracted and both loading factors were above 0.5. The optimal cutoff values were 2.32, 2.32 and 1.99, with the sensitivity＞ 65% and the specificity of 50% to 60% when OAHI≥5, ≥3, ≥1 times / h were used as the grouping standard for OSAS group and non-OSAS group.ConclusionReliability and validity of Chinese version of the short OSAS questionnaire are good. It appears to be an efficient instrument for screening moderate to severe pediatric OSAS in snoring children.