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A comparison of polysomnographic variables between obese adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome and healthy, normal-weight and obese adolescents

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in polysomnographic variables between obese adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and healthy, normal-weight and obese controls, as the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is increased in adults with PCOS.

Methods

Twenty-two obese adolescents with PCOS (mean age 15.2 ± 1.3 years, mean BMI 31.7 ± 6.2 kg/m2), 18 healthy, normal-weight adolescents (mean age 15.0 ± 0.9 years, mean BMI 20.6 ± 2.3 kg/m2), and 11 healthy, obese adolescents (mean age 15.0 ± 1.0 years, mean BMI 34.8 ± 8.7 kg/m2) underwent polysomnography to compare mean transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (Sat O2), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI), apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), the absolute number of obstructive apneas (NOA), percentage sleep stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep (stages 3 and 4), percentage of REM sleep (%REM), sleep-onset latency, and sleep efficiency.

Results

We found no differences between the three groups concerning Sat O2, AI, HI, AHI, NOA, and stages 3 and 4. The girls with PCOS differed from normal-weight and obese controls regarding sleep-onset latency and sleep efficiency and from the normal-weight controls regarding %REM.

Conclusions

OSAS does not seem to be more prevalent in adolescents with PCOS. Concerning the respiratory variables, adolescents with PCOS do not seem to differ from healthy controls; however, there seem to be differences concerning sleep architecture.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik, University of Witten/Herdecke, Dr.-Friedrich-Steiner-Str. 5, 45711, Datteln, Germany

    Gideon de Sousa, Bernhard Schlüter, Dirk Buschatz, Thomas Menke, Eckardt Trowitzsch, Werner Andler & Thomas Reinehr

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  1. Gideon de Sousa
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  2. Bernhard Schlüter
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  3. Dirk Buschatz
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  4. Thomas Menke
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  5. Eckardt Trowitzsch
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  6. Werner Andler
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  7. Thomas Reinehr
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Correspondence to Gideon de Sousa.

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de Sousa, G., Schlüter, B., Buschatz, D. et al. A comparison of polysomnographic variables between obese adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome and healthy, normal-weight and obese adolescents. Sleep Breath 14, 33–38 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-009-0276-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-009-0276-0

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