Cognitive Effects of Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
H Gerry Taylor, Susan R Bowen, Dean W Beebe, Elise Hodges, Raouf Amin, Raanan Arens, Ronald D Chervin, Susan L Garetz, Eliot S Katz, Reneé H Moore, Knashawn H Morales, Hiren Muzumdar, Shalini Paruthi, Carol L Rosen, Anjali Sadhwani, Nina Hattiangadi Thomas, Janice Ware, Carole L Marcus, Susan S Ellenberg, Susan Redline, Bruno Giordani, H Gerry Taylor, Susan R Bowen, Dean W Beebe, Elise Hodges, Raouf Amin, Raanan Arens, Ronald D Chervin, Susan L Garetz, Eliot S Katz, Reneé H Moore, Knashawn H Morales, Hiren Muzumdar, Shalini Paruthi, Carol L Rosen, Anjali Sadhwani, Nina Hattiangadi Thomas, Janice Ware, Carole L Marcus, Susan S Ellenberg, Susan Redline, Bruno Giordani
Abstract
Objective: Research reveals mixed evidence for the effects of adenotonsillectomy (AT) on cognitive tests in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The primary aim of the study was to investigate effects of AT on cognitive test scores in the randomized Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial.
Methods: Children ages 5 to 9 years with OSAS without prolonged oxyhemoglobin desaturation were randomly assigned to watchful waiting with supportive care (n = 227) or early AT (eAT, n = 226). Neuropsychological tests were administered before the intervention and 7 months after the intervention. Mixed model analysis compared the groups on changes in test scores across follow-up, and regression analysis examined associations of these changes in the eAT group with changes in sleep measures.
Results: Mean test scores were within the average range for both groups. Scores improved significantly (P < .05) more across follow-up for the eAT group than for the watchful waiting group. These differences were found only on measures of nonverbal reasoning, fine motor skills, and selective attention and had small effects sizes (Cohen's d, 0.20-0.24). As additional evidence for AT-related effects on scores, gains in test scores for the eAT group were associated with improvements in sleep measures.
Conclusions: Small and selective effects of AT were observed on cognitive tests in children with OSAS without prolonged desaturation. Relative to evidence from Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial for larger effects of surgery on sleep, behavior, and quality of life, AT may have limited benefits in reversing any cognitive effects of OSAS, or these benefits may require more extended follow-up to become manifest.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00560859.
Conflict of interest statement
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Dr Carol Rosen has consulted for Natus, Advance–Medical and is a consultant for Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Relevant to this work, Dr Chervin is named in or has developed patented and copyrighted materials owned by the University of Michigan and designed to assist with assessment or treatment of sleep disorders. These materials include the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire Sleep-Related Breathing Related Disorder scale, used in the research reported here. Dr Chervin serves on the boards of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the International Pediatric Sleep Society, is an editor for UpToDate, has edited a book for Cambridge University Press, has received support for research and education from Philips Respironics and Fisher Paykel, and has consulted for MC3 and Zansors. The other authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interests to disclose.
Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Source: PubMed