Table 4.

Endo-PAT 2000 in paediatric patients with respiratory conditions (four studies)

Title, lead author	Year	Study design	Population: n=sample size, age; mean±SD or median (range),(F/M)	Control group: n=sample size, age; mean±SD or median (range),(F/M)	Results: RHI reported. if RHI not specified, we reported p/r values	Outcomes
Vascular function in asthmatic children and adolescents. Augusto et al45	2017	Cross-sectional controlled study	n=19 asthmatic patients, age 13.6 ± 0.6 years. (F/M 0/19)	n=18 controls. 14.9 ± 0.7 years.(F/M 0/18)	RHI were similar between groups (p = 0.23). Asthmatic group RHI did not correlate with the different variables.	The increased AIx@75 without changes in RHI in asthmatic patients could mean that an early detection of vascular impairment may precede ED.
The effect of weight loss on endothelial function and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in obese children. Ysebaert et al46	2018	Conference abstract. Baseline and reassessed after 6-month weight loss programme.	n=62 obese, age 11–19 (mean 15.8) years,(F/M 20/42)	No controls.	Baseline: 39% had SDB. After 6 months: 86% had resolution of earlier diagnosed SDB. All had significant improvement of endothelial function after programme (p<0.001). No correlations between SDB and improvement in endothelial function found.	Endothelial function significantly improves after weight loss.
Polysomnographic correlates of endothelial function in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Zhang et al47	2018	Cross-sectional study	n=121 mild OSA, 6.2±1.6 years,(F/M 37/84). n=127 moderate-severe OSA, 6.0±1.6 years,(F/M 31/96)	n=107 primary snorers (PS), age 6.4±1.8 years,(F/M 37/70)	OSA groups lower RHI than PS (p<0.001, p=0.001). RHI positively correlated with age (r=0.17, p=0.002), BMI z score (r=0.14, p=0.008) and oxygen saturation (r=0.15, p=0.006).	Children with OSA are at increased risk for abnormal endothelial function than habitually snoring children.
Endothelial dysfunction in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Xu et al48	2020	Cross-sectional study	n=248 OSAS, age 3–11 years	n=107 primary snorers (PS). No significant differences in age/gender.	OSAS had lower RHI 1.1±0.1 vs 1.2±0.2 (p<0.01). RHI independently correlated with age, gender, obstructive apnoea hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index (p<0.01).	OSAS have significant ED compared with PS. Frequent arousals due to obstructive respiratory events during sleep may be a candidate risk factor for ED.

AIx@75, heart rate-corrected augmentation index; ED, endothelial dysfunction; OSA, obstructive sleep apnoea; OSAS, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome; PS, primary snorers; RHI, reactive hyperaemia index.