Estimating the prevalence and clinical causality of obstructive sleep apnea in paediatric narcolepsy patients

Numerous risk factors in paediatric narcolepsy may predispose them to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The concurrent presence of OSA in these patients might lead to underdiagnosing narcolepsy. This research investigates the prevalence and potential causality between OSA and paediatric narcolepsy.

A case-control study coupled with a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore the prevalence and causal link between paediatric narcolepsy and OSA risk.

The case-control study revealed that paediatric narcolepsy patients are at an increased risk of OSA, with an Odds ratio (OR) of 4.87 (95% CI: 2.20–10.71; P < 0.001). The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) model further suggests a potential causal link between narcolepsy and OSA (IVW OR: 4.671, 95% CI: 1.925–11.290; P < 0.001). Additionally, sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings’ reliability.

The findings highlight an elevated prevalence and genetic susceptibility to OSA among paediatric narcolepsy patients, underscoring the necessity for clinical screening of OSA. Continued research is essential to clarify the pathogenic mechanisms and develop potential treatments.