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Pediatrics

Obesity and anthropometric determinants of autonomic control in children with sleep-disordered breathing—which measurements matter?

International Journal of Obesity volume 42, pages 1195–1201 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Obesity and anthropometric measurements predict more severe sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children, and are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in children without SDB. We aimed to investigate whether anthropometric measurements predicted autonomic control in children with SDB. We hypothesised that anthropometric measures would be significant predictors of decreased heart rate variability.

Methods

Children (3–17 years) with SDB (n = 298) and non-snoring controls (n = 126) underwent polysomnography. BMI z-score, neck, waist and hip circumference were recorded. Heart rate variability, indicating autonomic control, was analysed during wake, non-rapid eye movement stages N1, N2 and N3, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The determinants of heart rate variability (low-frequency power [LF], high-frequency power [HF] and LF/HF ratio) were analysed using multiple stepwise linear regression. Independent variables were age, neck, waist and hip circumference, neck-to-waist ratio, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio, obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index, arousal index and SpO2 nadir.

Results

Waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio were significant negative determinants of both HF and LF power during wake, reflecting dampened autonomic control (LF: waist/height ratio, B = −1917 (95% CI: −3640, −194), p = 0.03; HF: hip circumference, B = −27, (−48, −7), p = 0.01), N1&2 (LF/HF: hip circumference, B = 0.01 (0.004, 0.024), p = 0.005) and N3 (LF: waist/height ratio, B = −2495, (−4005, −986), p = 0.001; HF, hip circumference, B = −54, (−102, −6), p = 0.03; LF/HF, waist circumference, B = 0.01, (0.004, 0.015), p = 0.002). Age was the strongest determinant of heart rate variability during wake and sleep.

Conclusion

This study suggests that while age is a determinant of autonomic control in children with SDB, the strongest modifiable factor determining dampened autonomic control is increased central adiposity, as reflected in the waist and hip circumference and the waist-to-height ratio.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the children and their parents who participated in this study.

Funding:

This research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [grant numbers 384142, 491001 and 10008919], the Heart Foundation of Australia [grant number G12M6564], and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program.

Authors contributions:

LMW conceptualised and designed the study, obtained funding for the study, analysed the data, drafted the initial manuscript and revised the manuscript. LMW is the corresponding author and confirms that she has had full access to the data in the study and final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. RSCH, GMN and MJD conceptualised and designed the study, obtained funding for the study, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. KT and LCN collected the data and reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Lisa M. Walter, Knarik Tamanyan, Lauren C. Nisbet, Margot J. Davey, Gillian M. Nixon & Rosemary S. C. Horne

  2. Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre, Monash Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Margot J. Davey & Gillian M. Nixon

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  1. Lisa M. Walter
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Correspondence to Lisa M. Walter.

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Walter, L.M., Tamanyan, K., Nisbet, L.C. et al. Obesity and anthropometric determinants of autonomic control in children with sleep-disordered breathing—which measurements matter?. Int J Obes 42, 1195–1201 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0130-1

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