Background: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a spectrum of disorders that is characterized by abnormal respiratory patterns during sleep, with symptoms that include snoring, mouth breathing, and pauses in breathing. No previous study has investigated the long-term impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life in Thai children with SDB.

Objective: To investigate the long-term impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life in Thai pediatric patients with SDB as measured by Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) questionnaire.

Materials and Methods: The present study was retrospectively conducted in Thai pediatric SDB that underwent adenotonsillectomy at Siriraj Hospital between January 1997 and December 2010. Caregivers of the present study children completed the OSA-18 questionnaire pre-operatively and at least 6-months post-operatively. Demographic and pre-operative polysomnography (PSG) data were also collected and analyzed. Pre-operative and post-operative OSA-18 total score and OSA-18 scores for all five domains were compared using paired t-test.

Results: Forty-nine children with SDB that underwent adenotonsillectomy were included. There were 30 boys (61.2%) and 19 girls (38.8%), with a mean age of 6.1±2.6 years (range 3.0 to 12.1). Pre-operative PSG was performed in 32 children (65.3%), with a mean apnea-hypopnea index of 12.6±12.4. Mean pre-operative and post-operative total OSA-18 score was 69.8±16.1 and 36.0±12.9, respectively. Mean duration from surgery to completion of the OSA-18 questionnaire after adenotonsillectomy was 12.5±4.6 months (range 6 to 28). Total OSA-18 score and the scores for all five OSA-18 domains were significantly improved after adenotonsillectomy (p<0.001 and <0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Long-term quality of life in Thai children with SDB was improved significantly after adenotonsillectomy, as evidenced by the significant improvement in OSA-18 total score and all OSA-18 domains. Based on these findings, the authors encourage adenotonsillectomy as the first-line treatment for SDB in Thai pediatric population.