Purpose

Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of a short lingual frenulum as a risk factor for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A shortened frenulum may contribute to abnormal orofacial development, leading to increased upper airway resistance and susceptibility to upper airway collapsibility during sleep. Recognizing early indicators, such as a short lingual frenulum, is crucial for prompt intervention. This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between a short lingual frenulum and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

Methods

This systematic review adheres to PRISMA criteria for a quantitative analysis. A comprehensive search was conducted on five databases until January 2024 to identify relevant studies. The selected articles underwent rigorous analysis, considering study design, sample characteristics, lingual frenulum characterization, sleep assessment methods, and key findings.

Results

A total of 239 references were initially identified. Finally, six studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with four studies eligible for the quantitative synthesis. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was employed to assess study quality. Meta-analysis, supported by a moderate evidence profile according to the GRADE scale, revealed statistically significant differences, with odds ratios of 3.051 (confidence interval: 1.939 to 4.801) for a short frenulum and 12.304 (confidence interval: 6.141 to 24.653) for a high-arched palate.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence supporting the association between ankyloglossia and obstructive sleep apnea in children. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider additional factors such as tongue mobility and the presence of a high-arched palate in further evaluations.

中文翻译：

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强直舌症与阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的关系：系统评价和荟萃分析

目的

最近的研究强调了舌系带短作为儿科阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征危险因素的潜在作用。系带缩短可能会导致口面部发育异常，导致上呼吸道阻力增加，并且在睡眠期间更容易出现上呼吸道塌陷。识别早期指标（例如舌系带短）对于及时干预至关重要。本系统评价旨在评估舌系带短与儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征风险之间的关联。

方法

本系统评价遵循 PRISMA 标准进行定量分析。截至 2024 年 1 月，我们对五个数据库进行了全面检索，以确定相关研究。所选文章经过严格分析，考虑了研究设计、样本特征、舌系带特征、睡眠评估方法和主要发现。

结果

初步确定了总共 239 条参考文献。最后，六项研究被纳入定性综合，其中四项研究符合定量综合。采用纽卡斯尔-渥太华量表来评估研究质量。根据 GRADE 量表，由中等证据支持的荟萃分析揭示了统计显着性差异，短系带的比值比为 3.051（置信区间：1.939 至 4.801），系带短的比值比为 12.304（置信区间：6.141 至 24.653）。高拱形上颚。

结论

这项系统评价和荟萃分析提供了支持儿童强直舌症和阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停之间关联的证据。尽管如此，在进一步评估中考虑其他因素（例如舌头活动性和高腭弓的存在）至关重要。