Using positive airway pressure to treat sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome

Positive Airway Pressure For The Treatment Of The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome In Children With Down Syndrome

NIH-funded research University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-10911685

This study is looking at how well positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy works for kids with Down syndrome who have trouble breathing at night due to sleep apnea, and it aims to understand how this treatment can help improve their daily lives and behavior.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Coral Gables, United States)
Project IDNIH-10911685 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with Down syndrome. Given that children with Down syndrome often experience persistent OSAS even after standard treatments like adenotonsillectomy, this study aims to explore how PAP can improve their quality of life and neurobehavioral symptoms. Families of affected children will be interviewed to gather insights on their experiences and outcomes with PAP therapy. The findings will help inform a larger randomized controlled trial to assess the benefits of PAP in this specific population.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children with Down syndrome who are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and may benefit from positive airway pressure therapy.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Down syndrome or those without obstructive sleep apnea are unlikely to benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life and behavioral outcomes for children with Down syndrome suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

How similar studies have performed: While positive airway pressure therapy has been effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea in general, its specific application and outcomes in children with Down syndrome have not been extensively studied, making this research a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Coral Gables, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.