Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Saudi Male Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Ahmed Bamaga; Lama Alqarni

doi:10.2147/DNND.S421399

Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Saudi Male Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2023 Aug 15:13:45-53. doi: 10.2147/DNND.S421399. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ahmed Bamaga¹, Lama Alqarni²

Affiliations

¹ Neuromuscular Medicine Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Univeristy and Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
² Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients are at a high risk of developing sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to determine the risk of developing OSA among DMD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2022 to July 2022 in a tertiary healthcare facility. As a screening tool for OSA, we used the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ).

Results: Subjects included 60 boys with DMD, mean age 10.15 ± 3.54 years. The mean BMI for all subjects was 18.9 ± 4.08 kg/m2. Of these, 22 (36.7%) children were at high risk of OSA. Children who were overweight, and on steroids tended to be at higher risk of developing OSA (P < 0.043) and (P < 0.029) respectively.

Conclusion: Our study shows a significant risk of OSA in DMD patients. Therefore, Sleep studies should be part of the standard of care for DMD patients.

Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Saudi Arabia; obstructive sleep apnea; pediatric sleep questionnaire.

Grants and funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, or publication of this article.