Evaluation of body growth in prepubertal Japanese children with obstructive sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy over a long postoperative period

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to identify changes in body growth patterns in prepubertal Japanese children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy (AT) over a long postoperative period. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the hospital records of 69 children, aged 3–10 years with OSA, who were followed-up for a median period of 38 months (range, 24–92 months) after AT. Height and weight were measured during the preoperative period and 12, and 24 months postoperatively, data were converted to standard deviation scores (SDS) using current gender- and age-specific values for the growth parameters adopted by the National growth chart of Japan. Comparisons between the pre and postoperative SDS values for height and weight were performed. The numerical data were examined statistically. Results The SDS for height and weight of Japanese OSA children significantly increased 24 months post AT and continued over the entire 24-month follow-up period. Height growth acceleration after AT ended earlier in children of 6.0 ± 1.5 years at the time of AT than in children of 4.7 ± 1.3 years who could not catch-up. Conclusion In prepubertal Japanese children with OSA, AT was effective for the growth of those children over a long postoperative period.