Objective: To provide normative values for pediatric sleep cardiorespiratory parameters following AASM rules, assessing effects of gender, age, and Tanner stage.
Methods: One-night polysomnograhy was performed at subjects' habitual bedtimes in 16 laboratories on 209 healthy German children, 1-18 years old.
Results: Normative values of cardiorespiratory parameters in pediatric sleep are presented. No obstructive and mixed apneas occurred. Hypopneas were seldom. Respiratory frequency and apnea-hypopnea-index decreased with age (p<0.001). In all groups central apneas ≥ 20 s were present but uncommon. Oxygen desaturations or respiratory arousals following central apnea were rare. Heart rate showed an inverse correlation to age (p<0.001). Heart rate was lower in sleep, lowest in stage N. The mean heart rate of females was higher than males (p<0.05). Neither Tanner stage nor corresponding age (p<0.05) influenced: mean apnea duration, central apnea index ≥ 20 s, hypopnea index, index of periodic breathing, or oxygen saturation nadir. All other parameters except maximal apnea duration and central apnea index after movements with oxygen desaturation show dependency on both Tanner stage and corresponding age (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Using AASM rules, the development of cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy children, ages 1-18 is shown. Age-related norms may improve sleep pathology identification.
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