A Lubbock Avalanche-Journal report indicates that having Down syndrome may increase the risk of developing sleep apnea, according to a study.

Dr. Christopher “Chris” Rose, board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and director of Covenant Sleep Lab, said a study published by a team of scientists in Belgium shows patients with Down syndrome are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.

The study was published last month in “SLEEP,” a joint publication of the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Scientists observed a group of children at Antwerp University Hospital in Belgium who visited the ear, nose and throat department between November 2008 and January 2015, according to the study.

“I’ve been trying to get the word out to pediatricians and others,” Rose said.

The link has been speculated for years, Rose said, adding he tried informing pediatricians to refer patients with Down syndrome to undergo sleep testing but his attempts have rarely been successful.

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