Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on clinical outcomes of hospitalization due to influenza in children: A propensity score‐matched analysis of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2005–2018

Background Previous studies have explored the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and clinical outcomes of influenza in adults, whereas limited research examined this relationship in pediatric populations. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of OSA on the outcomes of pediatric influenza hospitalizations. Methods This was a population‐based, retrospective study. Data of children aged 1–19 years hospitalized for influenza infection were extracted from the United States (US) Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database 2005–2018. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses determined associations between OSA, length of stay (LOS), total hospital costs, pneumonia, and life‐threatening events. Results After propensity‐score matching, a total of 2100 children were analyzed. The logistic analysis revealed that children with OSA had a significantly increased LOS (β = 2.29 days; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.01–3.57, p