Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Clinical prediction of obstructive sleep apnea in children is difficult. Due to limited availability of overnight polysomnography, parameters have been suggested to help select candidates. In adults, neck circumference is a strong predictor, but normative data in children is limited.
Study Impact: Neck circumference-height ratio (NHR) can be a useful additional aid along with other predictors to predict obstructive sleep apnea in children. NHR > 0.25 places the odds ratio of apneahypopnea index > 2 at 3.47. This provides an inexpensive clinical tool to assist in triaging snoring children for confirmatory polysomnogram.