by Lori Solomon

Nocturnal enuresis is more common in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Children.

María Andreu-Codina, from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues assessed the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in children with OSA, the effect of adenotonsillectomy, and the width of the arches. The analysis included 51 children with OSA and nocturnal enuresis, 79 with OSA without nocturnal enuresis, and 168 controls.

The researchers found that nocturnal enuresis was present in 39.2% of children with OSA versus 28% in the control group. After adenotonsillectomy, nearly half of the children with OSA and nocturnal enuresis significantly improved (49%). Compared with the control group, both OSA groups had narrower arch widths. Children with OSA and nocturnal enuresis had the narrowest widths.

"These conclusions underscore the importance of recognizing nocturnal enuresis as a potential clinical marker of OSA in pediatric patients, highlighting the need for early intervention and appropriate management strategies to improve patient outcomes," the authors write. "Future research should aim to include larger samples and consider alternative methods to gather more accurate sleep behavior data."

More information: María Andreu-Codina et al, The Relationship between Nocturnal Enuresis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children, Children (2024). DOI: 10.3390/children11091148

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