Effects of sleep-disordered breathing on physical traits, school performance, and behavior of Korean elementary school students in the upper grade levels

Objectives: We investigated the physical traits, school performance, and behavior of Korean children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Methods: We recruited 679 students from an elementary school in Seoul, Korea. We used a survey to collect information on the absence or presence of SDB at both the child's preschool age and his or her current age and on the degree of behavioral disturbance. Physical traits and examination scores were also analyzed. We divided the children into 4 groups: non-SDB group, past SDB group, recent SDB group, and continuous SDB group. Comparisons between these four groups were conducted. Results: Sixty-one students were excluded because of incomplete information. The current body mass index was significantly higher in the past (19.7 ± 3.6), recent (21.2 ± 3.6), and continuous SDB groups (20.7 ± 3.9) than in the non-SDB group (18.8 ± 3.2), but only for male students (p < 0.001). The examination scores were not different among the four groups, but the behavioral disturbance scores were much higher in the past, recent, and continuous SDB groups than in the non-SDB group for both genders. Conclusions: Among these Korean elementary school students in the upper grade levels, the presence of current or past SDB appeared to influence the current body mass index in boys and the presence of behavioral disturbances in both genders. However, SDB was not associated with school performance.