S04 Personalized medicine in pediatric OSA: How do we do it?


Several clinical phenotypes of adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been identified and these are increasingly being utilized clinically to tailor treatment. The aim of this symposium is to explore whether a similar approach is possible in the management of pediatric OSA.

Speakers include international experts who will discuss different aspects of how such a model could be adapted into daily clinical practice.

The symposium will be introduced with a talk from Professor Danny Eckert who will describe the adult experience, providing an overview of adult phenotypic OSA management. Professor Eckert will discuss the benefits if developing therapies that target specific phenotypes of OSA, available tools in adult practice for identifying phenotypes and how these can be utilized to decide on therapy. This introduction will then lead into discussion about how such an approach could be adopted into a pediatric setting.

Associate Professor Gillian Nixon will discuss recognized pediatric phenotypes of OSA, touching on the different mechanisms involved and relating this to why different treatment approaches may be beneficial for individual groups of children. This will include providing an overview on how pathogenesis of OSA differs, for example, in the typically developing child compared to those with an underlying congenital syndrome.

Dr Hui-Leng Tan will review literature regarding the genomics of OSA and how this information can be useful in progressing individualized management. Dr Tan has published in this field and is well placed to undertake this overview of a complex topic.

The symposium will then finish with two presentations regarding tailored treatment approaches; Professor Sally Shott will discuss the role of techniques such as Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) and CINE-MRI in guiding surgical management strategies for pediatric OSA, relating this to phenotypic management, and Professor Indra Narang will focus on how best to target management of obesity related OSA, discussing the mechanisms involved and relating this to available therapies.

The speakers chosen all have specific expertise in this field and are recognized internationally in the field of Sleep Medicine.

Learning Objectives


      • Describe how we can extrapolate from adult experience of a personalized approach to pediatric OSA
      • Recognize that pediatric OSA is a heterogenous disorder with different emerging phenotypes
      • Explain how genetic factors interplay with the development of specific OSA phenotypes and how this can be useful for treatment
      • Identify which tools are available to assist in guiding surgical therapy for pediatric OSA
      • Discuss why personalized therapy is important and how this can potentially be used in pediatric practice, using obesity related OSA management as an example of this model

Target Audience

Pediatricians, sleep clinicians, sleep scientists/technicians, ENT surgeons, nurses, fellows, students, and anyone involved in the management of children with OSA.


Jasneek Chawla (Australia)

Personalized medicine in OSA: Adult experience

Danny Eckert (Australia)

Phenotypes of Paediatric OSA

Gillian Nixon (Australia)

How can genomics help with a personalized approach?

Hui-Leng Tan (United Kingdom)

Tools for directing surgical treatment in OSA

Sally Shott (United States)

Targeted treatment for obesity related OSA

Indra Narang (Canada)

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