Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is the most frequent type of sleep-disordered breathing. OSAS is more prevalent and severe in patients with trisomy 21 than in the general population, both in children and in adults, among whom it affects more than 3 out of 4 people.

It has early onset and is diagnosed by the age of 5 years in 50% of cases. It is especially prevalent in infants aged less than 6 months. If untreated, OSAS is a major cause of morbidity, heart and cerebrovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive problems, and alters quality of life. As a result, it is essential to diagnose it as early as possible.

In the video and accompanying technical sheet, Dr. Hervé Walti, a pediatrician at the Jérôme Lejeune Institute, explains OSAS in children and adults with trisomy 21.  He describes the risk factors, talks about the conditions and methods for diagnosis, discusses morbidity, and outlines current treatment and screening options.