Reproducibility of portable polysomnography values in children with habitual snoring

The purpose of this study was to examine the reproducibility of portable polysomnography for the evaluation of nocturnal sleep breathing in children with habitual snoring. Seven children and nine adults with habitual snoring were monitored at home during nocturnal sleep for three nights by parents or a bed-partner who had been informed about the use of portable polysomnography. Differences in adult polysomnographic values over the three nights were assessed by two-way ANOVA and Friedman test. The difference in polysomonographic values in children between two nights was assessed with an F-test and a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. We found no differences in polysomnographic values among the three nights in adults. However, there were differences in Factor A (i.e. Mean SpO2, Lowest SpO2, Mean Apnea Duration and Mean Pulse Rate) among the adult subjects. In children, there was no difference in polysomnographic values between the two nights; however, there were differences in the variance of Mean SpO2 and Mean Apnea Duration between the two nights. In conclusion, to permit children to sleep as naturally as possible, sleep-screening tests can be performed reproducibly at home using portable polysomnography over a few days.