Prevalence of OSA Risk and Bruxism in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This study looked at sleep breathing problems and teeth grinding in 58 autistic children compared to 58 children without autism. They found that 60% of autistic children were at risk for sleep breathing problems compared to only 14% of other children. However, when researchers accounted for behavioral differences, this difference disappeared, suggesting that certain behaviors (not autism itself) might explain the sleep problems. Teeth grinding rates were similar between both groups.

This cross-sectional study examined sleep-disordered breathing and bruxism in 58 children with autism spectrum disorder compared to 58 matched controls. Using the validated SRBD-PSQ screening tool, researchers found that 60.3% of autistic children showed increased OSA risk versus 13.8% of controls (p<0.001). After controlling for BMI, the odds ratio increased to 9.6. However, when behavioral symptoms were factored in, the association lost significance, suggesting behavioral factors may explain the increased OSA risk.

No significant differences in awake or sleep bruxism were observed between groups. The findings indicate autistic children may be at higher risk for sleep-disordered breathing, potentially mediated by behavioral characteristics rather than autism itself.

Clinicians should screen autistic children for sleep-disordered breathing symptoms. The association may be explained by behavioral characteristics rather than autism diagnosis itself, suggesting targeted behavioral interventions might help address sleep issues in this population.

Single-center study with modest sample size (n=58 per group). Relies on screening questionnaire rather than objective sleep studies for OSA diagnosis. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences about behavioral symptoms and sleep outcomes.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by upper airway obstruction during sleep. Bruxism has been recently described as being associated with OSA. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of OSA risk and bruxism in pediatric ASD patients compared to age and sex-matched healthy controls using the validated screening tool Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder scale of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (SRBD-PSQ). Fifty-eight consecutive pediatric ASD patients were screened for OSA and bruxism at the Dentistry Unit of A.

Gemelli Policlinic and compared to 58 healthy patients using chi-square tests. Comparison between the two groups was repeated by controlling for body mass index (BMI) and behavioral symptoms with ANCOVA and logistic regression analyses. Of 58 ASD patients (10.3 ± 3.3 y/o, 74.5% males), 60.3% presented with an increased OSA risk, compared to 13.8% in the controls (p < 0.001, OR = 3.682, 95% CI: 1.933, 7.012). After controlling for BMI (which was significantly higher among ASD patients), those with ASD had significantly higher odds of OSA risk compared to controls (OR = 9.6, 95% CI: 3.56, 26.21).

After controlling for the SRBD-PSQ behavioral component, the association between ASD and OSA risk lost its significant difference (p < 0.862). No significant difference was found between ASD patients and controls in awake (3.6% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.680) and sleep (25.5% vs. 32.8%, p = 0.393) bruxism. Pediatric patients with ASD present at higher risk of OSA, most likely explained by the behavioral symptoms; self-reported bruxism did not significantly differ compared to healthy controls.