Associations of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk with Obesity, Body Composition and Metabolic Abnormalities in School-Aged Children and Adolescents

The objective of this study is to explore the associations between obesity, body composition, and the self-reported risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to examine whether the risk of OSA is related to metabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. Utilizing data from the 2022 to 2023 Beijing Children and Adolescents Health Cohort baseline survey, 5000 school-aged participants were analyzed. OSA risk was assessed via the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, with anthropometric and body composition measurements taken. Metabolic markers included blood pressure, lipid levels, blood glucose, and uric acid. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear models. Results showed that 88.6% were low-risk and 11.4% were high-risk for OSA. Overweight (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.22-1.92), obesity (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.57-2.40), and abdominal obesity (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.31-1.93) significantly increased OSA risk. High fat mass was a critical factor, while muscle mass was not, especially in those who were overweight and obese. Associations of OSA risk with metabolic abnormalities were non-significant after adjusting for BMI. Our research highlights the significant associations of obesity and body composition with OSA risk, with child BMI influencing the relationship between OSA and metabolic abnormalities. Future research should explore causative relationships and the enduring impacts of OSA on metabolic health in children.