[Snoring as an sign of sleep disorders in 11- to 15-year-old school children--initial results of a Vienna epidemiologic study].

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of snoring was evaluated in school children between 11 and 15 years of age. In addition to items reported by parents, children were asked to answer a questionnaire in order to receive information about the children's potential complaints, life style and school performance.

METHOD: The study was performed in 21 randomly selected schools in the Vienna area. 1434 school children were interviewed by a questionnaire (mean age 12.5 years, median 13 years, 676 girls vs. 699 boys). The questionnaire consisted of 45 multiple-choice questions about the socioeconomic status, possible sleep disorders and signs or symptoms of obstructive sleep apneas (OSA). The questionnaire completed by parents was also used to calculate the Brouillette-Score from the items snoring, obstructed breaths and apneas.

RESULTS: 5.2% (74/1434) of children and 6.9% (86/1259) of parents or caregivers reported about snoring (frequently or very frequently). There were no sex differences for the children's and the parents' questionnaire. None of the children had a clearly positive result (hint of OSA) from the Brouillette-Score whereas "suspicious OSA" was observed in 3.2% (40/1259). When frequent and very frequent snorers were compared with the other children, more mouth breathing during sleep (p < 0.00001), mouth dryness (p < 0.00005), headache (p < 0.0005), cigarette exposition at home (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.005), daytime naps (p < 0.005), crying out of sleep (p < 0.01), daytime tiredness (p < 0.05) und a higher body mass index (p < 0.05) could be observed in this group, in addition to the items reported by the parents.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of snoring is lower in our study than in other studies. No statistically significant sex differences were observed, both in the parents' and the children's questionnaire. In our study snoring seems to be a sign or symptom of different sleep disorders, and not only of OSA. A statistically significant correlation between snoring and anamnestic hints of sleep disorders underlines the need to ask concerned children themselves for observations potentially associated with sleep disorders. Results of the Brouillette-Score could not be used to identify sleep disorders in our study.