EMotional Intelligence And Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome In Children: Preliminary Case-Control Study

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects up to 4% of pediatric population, with many co-morbidities in the medium-long term. Functional alterations in prefrontal cortex (PFC) may explain why OSAS impacts aspects such as: executive functions, memory, motor control, attention, visual-spatial skills, learning and mood regulation. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a complex neuropsychological function that could be impaired in many clinical conditions. Aim of the study is to evaluate the difference in emotional intelligence skills among children with OSAS and healthy subjects Materials and methods: 29 children (16 males) mean age 9.5 ± 1.54 years, affected by OSAS were compared with 60 typical developing children similar for gender (p = 0,871), age (p = 0,934) and socio-economic status (p = 0.714). Bar-On emotional quotient inventory, youth version (EQ-i: YV) was used in order to assess the Emotional Quotient. Results: Apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) results to be 8.76 ±3.45 with medium desaturation index (ODI) amounting to 2:52 ± 21.5, average saturation 92.7±4.8 %, average desaturation 4.9 %. OSAS children have significant differences in Interpersonal scales (84.95 ± 07.03 vs. 99.61 ± 8.96; p <0.001), Adaptability (7:36 ± 79.61 vs. 101.32 ± 9.4; p <0.001), Stress Management (72.48 ± 8.14 vs. 98.44 ± 5.19, p <0.001), QE Total (81.28 ± 11.03 vs. 102.14 ± 9.62; p <0.001). Pearson correlation analysis shows an inverse relationship between QE total and ODI (p <0.01). Conclusion: Our findings tend to highlight the role of intermittent hypoxia in OSAS effects genesis, involving also aspects different from physical impairments.