Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children as a Result of Adenoid and/or Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy on Maternal Psychologic Status

Abstract

The authors aimed to evaluate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea in children as a result of adenoid and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy on maternal psychologic status. The study sample comprised the mothers of 66 children aged 3 to 15 years (mean age: 7.55 +/- 2.94 years) who were scheduled to undergo curette adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy because of airway obstruction. The mothers completed the 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 20-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-1 (STAI-1), and 20-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-2 (STAI-2) questionnaires before the operation and 10 days afterwards. Mothers who were under psychiatric treatment or declined to fill the questionnaires were excluded from the study. The results obtained postoperatively by day 10, when all the children had considerable improvement in their breathing, were analyzed as control data. The mean postoperative HAD-A and HAD-D scores of the mothers were significantly lower than the mean preoperative scores (P<0.001). Mothers- mean STAI-1 and STAI-2 scores were also significantly lower postoperatively (P<0.001). Pediatric adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy to relieve airway obstruction has a beneficial effect not only on the health of pediatric patients but also on the psychologic status of their mothers.