Correlation Between Salivary Alpha-Amylase Level and Heart Rate Variability in Pediatric Subjects with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices in SDB children based on objective parameters of polysomnography (PSG). MATERIALS AND METHOD: This prospective study enrolled 67 children who underwent a physical examination and full-attended in-lab PSG with continuous electrocardiographic signal. The sAA were measured at night before PSG and in the early morning after PSG. RESULTS: The subjects were divided into control [n=26, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≤1] and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS, n=41, AHI>1) groups; the OSAS group was subdivided into mild (1CONCLUSION: TAlthough both HRV and sAA were useful methods of predicting severe OSAS in children, a weak correlation between HRV and sAA was shown in pediatric OSAS subjects. Therefore, HRV and sAA may be independent parameters revealing different aspects of pediatric OSAS.