Patients
We retrospectively considered all patients who underwent
poly(somno)graphic evaluation at the Sleep Medicine and Long-Term
Ventilation Unit of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome from
January 2012 to December 2022.
The following poly(somno)graphic indices were considered:
Mixed and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (MOAHI): defined as the
number of mixed or obstructive apneas and hypopneas per hour of total
sleep time (TST);
Central apnea index (cAHI): defined as the number of central apneas
per hour of TST.
Patients having a cAHI ≥ 1 event/hour have been enrolled for this study.
Furthermore, for each patient, the following additional items were
assessed:
- whether they received non-invasive ventilation or were ventilated via
tracheostomy,
- age at the onset of ventilation,
- ventilation mode with specific technical details,
- and the patient’s diagnosis.
Considering the retrospective nature of the analysis, the current study
did not require the approval of the competent Ethic Committee, according
to current legislation, but a notification was sent. Data were processed
and retrospectively analyzed in compliance with the provisions of the
GDPR and with the related national legislative and regulatory provisions
in force, including any subsequent amendments and/or additions
thereto.