obstructive sleep apnea
Also written as: OSA — obstructive sleep apnea
A sleep-disordered breathing condition characterized by recurrent partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, causing episodic oxyhemoglobin desaturation and sleep disruption in children.
Full Definition
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children differs from the adult form in its etiology (most commonly adenotonsillar hypertrophy), polysomnographic criteria, and treatment approach (adenotonsillectomy as first-line therapy rather than CPAP). It is diagnosed via overnight polysomnography, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in children is considered abnormal at ≥1 event per hour, compared with ≥5 in adults. Editors must use American English 'apnea' (not British 'apnoea') in US publications and ensure OSA is not conflated with central sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome. The full term 'obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)' is sometimes used; editors should standardize the abbreviation within a document.
Usage
Usage note: US spelling: 'apnea'; UK spelling: 'apnoea.' The pediatric AHI threshold for abnormal (≥1 event/hour) differs from the adult threshold (≥5 event/hour); editors should not silently normalize these figures.
In Context
- "Polysomnography confirmed obstructive sleep apnea with an AHI of 4.2 events per hour, prompting referral for adenotonsillectomy." — Sleep study report editing
- "The editor queried whether the author intended OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) or CSA (central sleep apnea) in the paragraph discussing Chiari malformation." — Pediatric neurology-pulmonology case report editing