The Prevalence of OSA Among an Adult Population With Down Syndrome Referred to a Medical Clinic.
Most adults with Down syndrome have sleep apnea, so screen every client.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors looked at 56 adults with Down syndrome who came to a sleep clinic.
They gave each person an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram.
The goal was to see how many had obstructive sleep apnea.
What they found
Eighty-two percent of the adults tested positive for sleep apnea.
Almost half had mild apnea, but more than a third had severe apnea.
Only one in five adults left the clinic with a clear sleep record.
How this fits with other research
Mulder et al. (2020) asked Scottish and Japanese adults with Down syndrome about snoring and daytime sleep. Their survey also pointed to high apnea risk, even without lab tests.
Takahashi et al. (2023) tracked kids and teens with Down syndrome. They showed that extra weight predicts breathing problems only after age 13, while daytime sleepiness shows up earlier.
Together the three studies draw a life-span picture: apnea risk starts young, rises with age and weight, and stays high in adults.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with Down syndrome, add sleep apnea to your health checklist. Ask about snoring, naps, and morning headaches. When you see red flags, refer for a sleep study. Treating apnea can boost alertness, mood, and learning in day programs.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder affecting approximately 16% of adults (24% of men and 9% of women), and, if untreated, it can cause significant complications ( Young, 2009 ). This study evaluates 56 adult patients with Down syndrome and analyzed retrospective data to determine the: (1) prevalence of OSA, (2) severity of OSA, and (3) association between body mass index (BMI) and OSA. Of those participants that had polysomnography (PSG) testing available, 82.1% were diagnosed with OSA, divided by severity into mild (45.7%), moderate (15.2%), and severe (39.1%) levels. Because of the high prevalence of OSA among our study population, we recommend that all adults with DS be screened for OSA with PSG.
American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2019 · doi:10.1352/1944-7558-124.1.4