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Scientific Oral Presentation

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea at a Tertiary Academic Center

Monday, October 19, 2026
11:24 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Location: 409AB

    Presenting Author(s)

  • LP

    Lauren A. Pinzas, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MC

    Moises Cosme, N/A

    Clinical Research Coordinator
    University of Chicago, United States

  • YY

    Yuqing Yang, MS

    Data Analyst
    Institute for Population and Precision Health at the University of Chicago, United States

  • Jayant M. Pinto, MD

    Professor of Surgery; Director, Rhinology and Allergy
    University of Chicago Medicine
    Chicago, IL, United States

  • BA

    Briseis Aschebrook-Kilfoy, PhD

    Professor; Director, The Epidemiology Research and Recruitment Core
    The Institute for Population and Precision Health; University of Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Fuad M. Baroody, MD

    Professor, Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology
    University of Chicago Medicine
    Chicago, IL, United States

Disclosure(s):
Fuad M. Baroody, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Exposure to air pollution is associated with airway inflammation and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Prevalence and severity of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) vary across patient subgroups, especially those in urban environments, which could be related (in part) to their exposures. We investigated the association between specific components of air pollution and pediatric OSA in this context.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of children who completed polysomnography (PSG) for suspected SDB at an urban, tertiary academic medical center (2017-2023). Diagnosis and severity of OSA were defined by standardized pediatric apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) thresholds. Average ambient PM2.5 exposure based on residential address using standard methods across the 12 months preceding PSG. Multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for age, race, sex, BMI, and prematurity, assessed associations between fine particulate matter ( < 2mm in diameter, PM2.5) total and its components and OSA. Similarly, ordinal logistic regression evaluated associations with OSA severity (mild: AHI 1-4.9, moderate: 5-9.9, severe: (≥ 10).

Results: Among 523 children (mean 7.3 years, 45.3% male), 83% were diagnosed with OSA. In adjusted component-specific analyses, sulfate- and ammonium-related PM2.5 exposures were independently associated with OSA diagnosis (sulfate: OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.48; ammonium: OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66). Interquartile-range increases in sulfate exposure were also associated with greater OSA severity (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.32). Associations between total PM2.5 exposure and OSA diagnosis or severity were attenuated in fully adjusted models, while younger age, race, and obesity remained strongly associated with greater OSA severity.

Conclusions: Specific components of airborne PM2.5, particularly sulfates, are implicated in the presence and severity of pediatric OSA. Our findings suggest that the composition of air pollution exposure may contribute to increased risk and disease burden of SDB among children living in urban environments.