Abstract
Background: Habitual snoring (HS), a prominent symptom of
sleep-disordered breathing , is important to also consider the
associated, multidimensional risk factors for HS in children.
Aim: To identify risk factors for HS in children.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in Chengdu.
Children aged 2–14 years from four districts were randomly chosen to
participate.Questionnaires were voluntarily completed by the children’s
guardians.
Results: The survey included 926 boys and 622 girls, who were
an average of 7.11 ± 5.25 years old. The sample included 463 habitual
snorers (30.38%), 683 occasional snorers (44.82%), and 402 non-snorers
(26.38%). HS was found in 51.84% of preschool children and 26.6% of
school children.Among the HS group, 31.3% had a maternal education of a
college degree or higher and 86.6%had an immediate family member who
snores. Breastfeeding duration among the HS group was significantly less
than among the occasional snoring and non-snoring groups. History of
symptoms of allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, tonsillitis, and
pneumonia/bronchitis in the past six months were associated with HS.
Likewise, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal exposure to
secondhand smoke during pregnancy , and child exposure to secondhand
smoke were also associated with HS.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HS was higher in preschool
children. Having a mother with more education, a family history of
snoring, a shorter period of breastfeeding, upper respiratory tract
inflammation, and passive smoking are important risk factors for HS.