Comparison of blood pressure measurements in children with and without habitual snoring

Higher or similar systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure has been recorded in children with sleep apnea compared to subjects with primary snoring or in those with primary snoring compared to controls. To investigate the association between blood pressure and habitual snoring, we studied children in four randomly selected schools in central Greece. A symptom questionnaire was answered by parents, and children's weight, height, and blood pressure were measured. Seven hundred and sixty children (4-14 years old; 352 female) were recruited. Fifty of 760 (6.6%) participants were snoring more than 3 nights/week (habitual snorers). Mean (+/- SD) systolic blood pressure was 106.9 (+/-10.6) mmHg in habitual snorers vs. 107 (+/- 12) in nonhabitual snorers (P > 0.05). Mean diastolic blood pressure was 61.9 (+/- 7.6) in the former vs. 61.8 (+/- 6.8) in the latter (P > 0.05). While age, gender, and body mass index were significant predictors of systolic blood pressure in a general linear model, snoring was not. Similarly, that gender and body mass index but not snoring were significant predictors of diastolic blood pressure. In a community sample of children, habitual snorers do not have higher morning systolic or diastolic blood pressure than nonhabitual snorers.