Alshaikh Ayoub A, Alalyani Reem T, Aoun Alshahrani Mohammed Abdullah, Alshehri Renad M, Alasmari Nuha S, Alshahrani Shahd Abdullah A, Almohiy Nadiyah Hussain M, Asiri Mohammed Hassan M, Abdulrahman Majdoleen A, Alshahrani Abdullah Rashid S, Altalhiyyah Khalid S, Alqahtani Mahdi Muhammad M
Family and Community Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU.
General Practice, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU.
Cureus. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45466. eCollection 2023 Sep.
Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a significant health concern affecting both adults and children. However, limited research has focused on SDB and its association with orofacial symptoms in primary school children in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Understanding the prevalence and impact of SDB in this specific population is crucial for early detection and intervention. The study aims to investigate the prevalence of SDB and its associations with orofacial symptoms among primary school children. Method A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 307 primary school children aged six to 12 years in the Aseer Region. Data was collected through a web-based questionnaire, analyzing demographic information, orofacial symptoms, sleep apnea symptoms, general symptoms, growth-related symptoms, and behavioral symptoms. Results The study showed a balanced gender distribution, with 67.8% of children falling between ages six and nine years. Most children were Saudi nationals, and 58.6% were enrolled in primary education. Orofacial symptoms were reported by 63.5% of children, with finger-sucking and grinding teeth while sleeping being the most common. Sleep apnea symptoms affected 44.3% of children, with snoring being the prevalent symptom. General symptoms were reported by 45% of children, with daytime sleepiness being the most common. Approximately 44.6% of children exhibited sleepiness and growth-related symptoms. No statistically significant relationship was found between age and the occurrence of these symptoms. Conclusion The study offers valuable insights into the prevalence of SDB and its associations with orofacial symptoms among primary school children in the Aseer Region. To truly gauge the impact of interventions on SDB, further research with therapeutic interventions is warranted. In the meantime, targeted strategies and awareness initiatives are needed to address SDB in this population and enhance their overall health and quality of life.
睡眠呼吸障碍（SDB）是一个重大的健康问题，影响着成人和儿童。然而，在沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区，针对小学生睡眠呼吸障碍及其与口面部症状的关联的研究有限。了解该特定人群中睡眠呼吸障碍的患病率及其影响对于早期发现和干预至关重要。本研究旨在调查小学生睡眠呼吸障碍的患病率及其与口面部症状的关联。方法：进行了一项描述性横断面调查，涉及阿西尔地区307名6至12岁的小学生。通过基于网络的问卷收集数据，分析人口统计学信息、口面部症状、睡眠呼吸暂停症状、一般症状、生长相关症状和行为症状。结果：研究显示性别分布均衡，67.8%的儿童年龄在6至9岁之间。大多数儿童是沙特公民，58.6%的儿童就读于小学。63.5%的儿童报告有口面部症状，其中吮指和睡觉时磨牙最为常见。44.3%的儿童有睡眠呼吸暂停症状，打鼾是最普遍的症状。45%的儿童报告有一般症状，白天嗜睡最为常见。约44.6%的儿童表现出嗜睡和生长相关症状。未发现年龄与这些症状的发生之间存在统计学上的显著关系。结论：该研究为阿西尔地区小学生睡眠呼吸障碍的患病率及其与口面部症状的关联提供了有价值的见解。为了真正评估干预措施对睡眠呼吸障碍的影响，有必要进行进一步的治疗干预研究。与此同时，需要有针对性的策略和提高认识的举措来解决该人群的睡眠呼吸障碍问题，提高他们的整体健康和生活质量。
