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Scientific Oral Presentations

Sleep Medicine

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations 2 - Sleep Medicine

Outcomes of Children Referred for Polysomnography: Socioeconomic and Clinical Determinants of Loss to Follow Up

Sunday, September 29, 2024
2:48 PM – 2:54 PM EDT
Location: MBCC, 238-239
Disclosure(s):
Anika Makol:

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

Grace C. Nichols, BS:

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

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that a fair number of patients are lost to follow-up after being referred for polysomnography (PSG) potentially impacting care and resources. Our aim was to study characteristics of this patient population, any predictors for loss to follow-up and non compliance with PSG (nPSG).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study at tertiary care center. Charts of pediatric patients referred from the Department of ENT for PSG from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 were reviewed. Variables collected were demographics, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, race, insurance (public vs private), language spoken, disease severity, management provided. Patients were considered lost to follow-up after referral if there was no documented follow-up with an ENT for the same reason. Status of PSG was documented as completed (PSG) and not completed (nPSG) in the following categories: no-shows, canceled, and unable to contact the family.

Results: A total of 515 patients were referred over the study period. OF them, 54% were males and 46% females; 31% of the cohort was lost to follow-up. nPSG group was 26% of the cohort. Noncompliance with PSG was a significant predictor of loss to follow up (p < 0.001). None of the other clinical or demographic factors were significantly associated. In the nPSG group, 47% (n = 63) cancelled their appointment, 21% (n = 29) no-showed and 32% (n = 43) were unable to be contacted. Mean number of cancellations in the nPSG group was 1.24, with a range of 1-5. Reasons for non-compliance were social (29%), medical (24%) and other (48%). Significantly larger proportion of males (p = 0.025) with non-severe disease were lost to follow-up in nPSG group. Of those who followed up, a significantly greater portion of patients were recommended surgical management in nPSG group (p = 0.037) vs PSG group.

Conclusions: Failure to complete polysomnography is a significant predictor of patients lost to follow-up after referral. Careful consideration of indications for referral for PSG and understanding factors leading to noncompliance will improve care and help with more judicious use of resources.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Anika Makol

    Medical Student
    UConn School of Medicine
    South Windsor, CT, United States

    Disclosure(s):

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

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Nancy Grover, MD

    Attending
    Connecticut Children's, Dept. of Pediatric Otolaryngology
    HARTFORD, CT, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Grace C. Nichols, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Connecticut School of Medicine
    Farmington, Connecticut, United States

    Disclosure(s):

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