Gut microbiota dysbiosis in 4‐ to 6‐year‐old children with obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome

Abstract Objective Several experiments on animals have reported the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and gut microbiota. We investigated the gut microbiota composition of children aged 4–6 years with OSAHS to complement the pathogenesis and clinical screening methods of OSAHS. Methods We collected feces from 43 children with OSAHS and 45 controls aged 4–6 years. We extracted total bacterial DNA from feces and analyzed the composition of gut microbiota through 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Results There were significant differences in bacteria producing short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) between OSAHS children and controls, including Faecalibacterium , Roseburia , and a member of Ruminococcaceae. A gut microbiota model for pediatric OSAHS screening showed that the receiver operating characteristic‐area under the curve (ROC‐AUC) was 0.794 with 79.1% and 80.0% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Functional analysis of the gut microbiota revealed several alterations in metabolism. Conclusion The composition of gut microbiota in OSAHS children is partially changed. The altered intestinal flora may provide a new screening method for the diagnosis of children with OSAHS. The prediction of gut microbiota function suggests that intestinal metabolic function may be altered in OSAHS children.