142 - The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Childhood Obesity and Its Implications on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Title: The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Childhood Obesity and Its Implications on Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Brooks, J., Stauffer, J. NYU Langone Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry—San Diego, CA



Purpose: This study examines body mass index (BMI) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic’s quarantine before March 13, 2020 and after August 18, 2020 in pediatric patients. Data was collected to determine the rate of increase of children who were classified as healthy weight to overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. This data will draw conclusions on the patients’ collective risk for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) by also looking at associated dental findings with POSA such as: bruxism, malocclusion, mouth breathing, Brodsky score, parent-reported snoring, crowding, non-nutritive habits, and referral for sleep study.


Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed from 250 patients aged 3-14 years old from San Ysidro Health’s Children’s Dental Center at Rady Children’s Hospital and Chula Vista Medical Plaza.


Results: Out of 350 patients, 178 patients remained at a healthy weight status (50.9%).  58 patients (16.6%) that were previously at a healthy weight prior to the pandemic became overweight, obese, or morbidly obese during the pandemic. 109 (31.2%) patients increased their BMI before and during the pandemic. 50 patients (50%) were found to have a class II or III malocclusion.  The following oral habits had no significant correlation with BMI: snoring (10.3%), mouth breathing (7.1%) and non-nutritive habits (9.1%).


Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, many patients experienced an increase in BMI during the COVID-19 pandemic, which places them at higher risk for POSA. Future studies can be conducted to see if patients can return to previous BMI classifications once establishing normal routines after the COVID-19 pandemic.