Scholarlink

Background <p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary snoring (PS) represent a spectrum of sleep-related breathing conditions. Emerging evidence links OSA to perturbations in the oropharyngeal and gut microbiomes and the pathogenesis of OSA-related comorbidities. However, the microbiome composition and factors driving dysbiosis in children remain unresolved.</p> Methods <p>Two pediatric cohorts were examined to assess the microbiome associated with sleep-disordered breathing in the airway (Cohort A) and gut (Cohort B) using 16S rRNA gene profiling. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from participants with OSA, PS, and healthy controls (HC) (<i>n</i> = 60). Cohort B participants (OSA and HC, <i>n</i> = 46) provided stool samples for microbiome and fecal calprotectin measurements and completed a dietary survey.</p> Results <p>Oropharyngeal microbial diversity differed between OSA and HC, characterized by an increase in gastrointestinal specific taxa and reduced oral commensals. Similar shifts were observed between PS and HC, with few taxa differing between OSA and PS. In the gut, children with OSA showed an imbalance marked by an increase in opportunistic pathogens and reduced beneficial organisms. However, diversity assessments did not show any indication of dysbiosis or inflammation, and there were no overall differences in dietary intake.</p> Conclusions <p>Dysbiosis in the oropharyngeal microbiomes of OSA and PS points to shared pathophysiological factors (e.g., snoring) as possible drivers of microbiome disruption across the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing. The gastrointestinal microbiome of children with OSA indicates a mild microbial imbalance that may elicit harmful outcomes or manifest as dysbiosis if left untreated. Together, these findings support a role of the microbiome as a possible mediator of comorbidities across the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing.</p> Brief summary <p><b>Current knowledge/study rationale:</b>&#xa0;Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary snoring (PS) represent a continuum of sleep-related breathing disorders. While adult and animal studies suggest OSA-induced microbiome disruptions contribute to the onset of comorbidities, the factors driving dysbiosis in children remain unresolved. This study investigated the airway and gut microbiomes in pediatric OSA, PS, and healthy controls to identify microbial alterations linked to these conditions.</p> <p><b>Study impact:</b>&#xa0;This study revealed that children with obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring exhibit similar altered oropharyngeal microbiomes, distinct from that of healthy controls, suggesting common underlying pathophysiological factors.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring in children are associated with oropharyngeal dysbiosis and a mild compositional imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月12日

查看全文
  • Jennifer Hudson,
  • Azleena Akhand,
  • Moe Thant Nwe,
  • Michael J. Coffey,
  • Josie van Dorst,
  • Sandra Chuang,
  • Chee Y. Ooi

摘要

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary snoring (PS) represent a spectrum of sleep-related breathing conditions. Emerging evidence links OSA to perturbations in the oropharyngeal and gut microbiomes and the pathogenesis of OSA-related comorbidities. However, the microbiome composition and factors driving dysbiosis in children remain unresolved.

Methods

Two pediatric cohorts were examined to assess the microbiome associated with sleep-disordered breathing in the airway (Cohort A) and gut (Cohort B) using 16S rRNA gene profiling. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from participants with OSA, PS, and healthy controls (HC) (n = 60). Cohort B participants (OSA and HC, n = 46) provided stool samples for microbiome and fecal calprotectin measurements and completed a dietary survey.

Results

Oropharyngeal microbial diversity differed between OSA and HC, characterized by an increase in gastrointestinal specific taxa and reduced oral commensals. Similar shifts were observed between PS and HC, with few taxa differing between OSA and PS. In the gut, children with OSA showed an imbalance marked by an increase in opportunistic pathogens and reduced beneficial organisms. However, diversity assessments did not show any indication of dysbiosis or inflammation, and there were no overall differences in dietary intake.

Conclusions

Dysbiosis in the oropharyngeal microbiomes of OSA and PS points to shared pathophysiological factors (e.g., snoring) as possible drivers of microbiome disruption across the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing. The gastrointestinal microbiome of children with OSA indicates a mild microbial imbalance that may elicit harmful outcomes or manifest as dysbiosis if left untreated. Together, these findings support a role of the microbiome as a possible mediator of comorbidities across the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing.

Brief summary

Current knowledge/study rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary snoring (PS) represent a continuum of sleep-related breathing disorders. While adult and animal studies suggest OSA-induced microbiome disruptions contribute to the onset of comorbidities, the factors driving dysbiosis in children remain unresolved. This study investigated the airway and gut microbiomes in pediatric OSA, PS, and healthy controls to identify microbial alterations linked to these conditions.

Study impact: This study revealed that children with obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring exhibit similar altered oropharyngeal microbiomes, distinct from that of healthy controls, suggesting common underlying pathophysiological factors.