Sleep-disordered breathing: a new risk factor of suspected fatty liver disease in overweight children and adolescents?

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate if sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was an independent predictor of suspected fatty liver disease in a clinical sample of overweight children and adolescents.

Materials and methods: Consecutive overweight and obese children attending a pediatric obesity clinic underwent polysomnography, fasting blood sample, and abdominal ultrasound.

Results and discussion: The respiratory disturbance index, percentage of total sleep time with SO2 < 90%, and SaO2nadir were associated with higher alanine amino-transferases (ALT) independent of abdominal obesity. Multiple logistic regression selected waist circumference (odds ratio = 1.05; p = 0.05) and SaO2nadir (odds ratio = 0.87; p = 0.03) as predictors of suggestive fatty liver disease, defined as ALT > 40 U/L and/or hyperechoic liver on abdominal ultrasound. This study supports the association between the severity of SDB and suspected fatty liver disease in a clinical sample of overweight children and adolescents. We recommend more research on the influence of SDB on the development of fatty liver disease and on the effect of treating sleep apnea on liver function parameters.