Abstract Study Objectives This research investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectral density during sleep in pediatric patients with the classic phenotype of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The primary goal was to evaluate potential specific objective biomarkers of sleep quality within this clinical group. Methods The study sample comprised 76 children (age range, 4–8 years), categorized into a classic OSA phenotype group ( n = 36) and a healthy control group ( n = 40). All participants underwent diagnostic overnight polysomnography (PSG) in a controlled laboratory setting. Following manual scoring of PSG data, quantitative EEG spectral evaluation was performed using the F4–M1 derivation. Absolute power in the theta, alpha, delta, sigma, and beta frequency bands was calculated across multiple sleep stages. Comparative statistical analyses were conducted to identify differences in frequency features between the two cohorts. Results Quantitative analysis showed that pediatric patients with the classic OSA phenotype exhibited significantly higher absolute power in the delta frequency range during NREM3 (deep) sleep compared to the control group (855.47 ± 297.75 vs. 646.11 ± 245.26, p < 0.05). Analysis of conventional polysomnographic parameters demonstrated significant changes in sleep macro-architecture, including increased percentage of NREM1 sleep (8.84 ± 5.81 vs. 5.31 ± 2.61, p < 0.05), decreased percentage of NREM2 sleep (41.15 ± 8.11 vs. 47.36 ± 6.42, p < 0.05), and significantly increased Arousal index (27.93 ± 9.49 vs. 19.82 ± 11.13, p < 0.05). in the group of patients with the classic OSA phenotype compared to the control group. No other significant differences were observed in other spectral bands or during other sleep stages. Conclusion Monitoring EEG spectral power, particularly delta activity during slow-wave sleep, may provides a valuable objective measure of sleep quality in pediatric patients with the classic OSA phenotype.
Dominika et al. (Fri,) studied this question.