Snoring and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Childhood: Regional Prevalence in Balıkesir, Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 110 - 115, 23.12.2025

Ertuğrul Canlı , Berna Uzunoğlu , Sultan Eser , Demet Can

https://doi.org/10.65396/ejra.1822381

Abstract

Purpose: There is a lack of sufficient research on the prevalence of sleep-related disordered breathing (SRDB) in children in Turkey. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of habitual snoring and SRBD among schoolchildren in the city center of Balıkesir, located in the Northern Aegean region, using a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire.
Materials and Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted between January and May 2022. The study targeted children aged 5 to 13 years attending preschools, primary and lower secondary schools in the center of Balıkesir/Turkey. Using simple random sampling, 13 schools were selected. From these schools, systematic sampling was used to recruit students. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was distributed to the parents of 1300 students.
Results: A total of 856 children (66%) whose families returned properly completed questionnaires were included in the study. The prevalence of habitual snoring was 5.6%, while SRBD was identified in 9.1% of the children aged 5 to 13. Gender and age had no statistically significant effect on the prevalence of SRDB or habitual snoring (p > 0.05). Witnessed sleep apnea was reported in 2.3% of children and was positively correlated with both habitual snoring (p = 0.001) and SRDB (p < 0.001). Morbidities such as enuresis nocturna, morning headaches, growth retardation, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were more frequently observed in both the habitual snoring and SRDB groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Screening through school-based surveys and questionnaires can enhance awareness of habitual snoring and SRDB. Considering the limited accessibility to sleep laboratories and the high cost of polysomnography worldwide, validated sleep questionnaires may serve as effective screening tools.

Keywords

SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING , OSAS , SNORİNG , ADENOİD , APNEA

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