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Pediatric Otolaryngology

Influence of Vitamin D in the Presence of Pediatric SDB

Sunday, October 1, 2023
1:24 PM - 1:30 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: 207CD

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Lauren A. Linker, MD

    PGY-5
    University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
    Memphis, TN, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • EC

    Elizabeth W. Crowder, MS

    University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    Memphis, TN, USA

  • Joseph M. Berry, B.S.

    Clinical Research Fellow; M4 Medical Student
    University of Tennessee Health and Science Center; University of Mississippi Medical Center
    Jackson, Mississippi, United States

  • MO

    Monica T. Ogunsusi, n/a

    Monica T. Ogunsusi
    University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    Riverdale, GA, USA

  • NV

    Nathanael K. VanKampen, n/a

    University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    Bartlett, TN, USA

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Anthony M. Sheyn, MD, FACS

    Division Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology
    LeBonheur Children's Hospital
    Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Disclosure(s):
Anthony M. Sheyn, MD, FACS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by repetitive airway collapse or obstruction and episodes of apnea during sleep. OSA affects approximately 3-4% of children, with age, obesity, race, and male gender as important risk factors. The literature is conflicted as to whether 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25(OH)D) deficiency is also a contributing factor to OSA and adenotonsillar hypertrophy. We investigated the connection between 25(OH)D deficiency and OSA by comparing the rates of 25(OH)D deficiency in patients who underwent surgery for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) versus non-sleep related indications.

Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy from a single provider at a single center from 01/01/2019 to 07/22/21. Inclusion Criteria included: ages 2 to 18 years, 25(OH)D levels in patient chart, and receiving tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. Exclusion criteria included: no 25(OH)D levels drawn, supplemented 25(OH)D pre-operatively, comorbidities (immunologic deficiency, systemic steroid use, malabsorption, malnutrition, craniofacial anomalies), or surgery done at outside facility.

Results: 612 patients were included with 292 males and 319 females. 335 patients were Black, 199 were White, 33 were Hispanic, and the remaining 45 were reported as Other. Average age at time of surgery was 6.57 years. 454 underwent surgery for SDB or OSA (Group1). 103 had documented SDB but underwent surgery for another reason (Group 2). 55 were included in the control group with no SDB/OSA diagnosis receiving surgery for other reasons (Group 3).The mean 25(OH)D levels (ng/mL) of Groups 1-3 were 22.8242, 27.4893, and 24.83, respectively. One-way ANOVA resulted in a significant difference (p= 0.0003).

Conclusions: The impact of 25(OH)D levels on OSA remains unclear. The results indicate that patients requiring surgery for SDB/OSA have significantly lower 25(OH)D compared to those undergoing surgery for different reasons. This warrants further investigation of a link between 25(OH)D levels and OSA severity.