Association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This article systematically reviews and meta-analyzes the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. It finds that approximately 44% of children with ADHD also have OSA, indicating a strong association between the two conditions. The review highlights that adenotonsillectomy, a common surgical treatment for pediatric OSA, consistently improves both OSA and ADHD symptoms, suggesting it as a potential complementary or alternative therapy to pharmacological treatments like methylphenidate. The authors recommend that clinicians consider evaluating children with ADHD symptoms for OSA to guide more effective, individualized treatment strategies. Further large-scale, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality, long-term outcomes, and the effects of other OSA treatments on ADHD symptoms.