Research Team -
Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Principal Investigators
Research Staff
Mr. YU Magnum
Ms. WONG Lai On
Ms. NGAI Hoi Yan
Post-graduate students
Ms. YUEN Hoi Man, Cindy
Mr. HE Zhiang
Ms. GUO Wei
Research Scope
An overview of research focus
Our research team is most interested in paediatric sleep problems and respiratory diseases, with particularly focuses on sleep-disordered breathing, sleep deprivation, and asthma.
A list of research topics
Natural history of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from childhood to adulthood
Epidemiology of OSA in children and adolescents
Cardiovascular complications of OSA in children
Neurocognitive and behavioural outcomes in children with OSA
Non-invasive ventilation for childhood OSA
Treatment effect of adenotonsillectomy
Prediction of treatment responses
Anatomical markers of childhood OSA
Craniofacial phenotyping by photogrammetry
Drug-induced sleep endoscopy for children with OSA
Sleep deprivation and cardiovascular outcomes in youth
Sleep problems in young children
Sleep education
Management of asthma in children
Asthma and systemic inflammation
Tobacco smoke exposure in children
Selected publications
Yuen HM, Au CT, Chu WCW, Li AM, Chan KC. Reduced Tongue Mobility: An Unrecognised Risk Factor of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Sleep. 2021:zsab217. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsab217
Au CT, Chan KCC, Chook P, Wing YK, Li AM. Cardiovascular risks of children with primary snoring: A 5-year follow-up study. Respirology. 2021;26(8):796-803. doi:10.1111/resp.14089
Au CT, Chan KCC, Lee DLY, Leung N, Chow SMW, Chow JS, Wing YK, Li AM. Effect of surgical intervention for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnoea on attention and behavioural outcomes: A randomized controlled study. Respirology. 2021;26(7):690-699. doi:10.1111/resp.14050
Chan KC, Au CT, Hui LL, Wing YK, Li AM. Childhood OSA is an independent determinant of blood pressure in adulthood: longitudinal follow-up study. Thorax. 2020;75(5):422-431. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2019-213692
Au CT, Chan KC, Zhang J, Liu KH, Chu WCW, Wing YK, Li AM. Intermediate phenotypes of childhood obstructive sleep apnea. J Sleep Res. 2020;30(3):e13191. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13191
Chan KC, Au CT, Hui LL, Ng S-K, Wing YK, Li AM. How OSA Evolves From Childhood to Young Adulthood: Natural History From a 10-Year Follow-up Study. Chest. 2019;156(1):120-130. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.03.007
Chan KCC, Au CT, Chook P, Lee DLY, Lam HS, Wing YK, Li AM. Endothelial function in children with OSA and the effects of adenotonsillectomy. Chest. 2015;147(1):132-139. doi:10.1378/chest.14-1307
Chan CCK, Au CT, Lam HS, Lee DLY, Wing YK, Li AM. Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea – a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Sleep Medicine. 2015;16(3):358-363. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2014.10.015
Li AM, Au CT, Ng C, Lam HS, Ho CKW, Wing YK. A 4-year prospective follow-up study of childhood OSA and its association with BP. Chest. 2014;145(6):1255-1263. doi:10.1378/chest.13-1333
Au CT, Ho CKW, Wing YK, Lam HS, Li AM. Acute and chronic effects of sleep duration on blood pressure. Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):e64-72. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-1379
Grants
1. Study title: Validation of the sonographic measurement of lateral parapharyngeal wall thickness in children
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 28 Jun 2021 to 27 Jun 2022
Reference number: 2020.073
2. Study title: Randomised controlled study to examine the efficacy of sleep education on extending sleep duration of preschool children.
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2021 to 30 Jun 2023
Reference number: 14116920
3. Study title: Long-term follow-up of children with obstructive sleep apnoea treated with adenotonsillectomy: cardiovascular perspective
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Medical Research Fund
Study period: 17 Jul 2020 to 16 Jul 2024
Reference number: 07181276
4. Study title: Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea among adolescents in the general population
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2020 to 30 Jun 2022
Reference number: 14116919
5. Study title: High-flow nasal cannula as an alternative intervention for children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnoea
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Medical Research Fund
Study period: 7 Oct 2019 to 6 Oct 2021
Reference number: 06170456
6. Study title: Sleep pattern and habits of Hong Kong preschoolers
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 29 Jun 2020 to 28 Jun 2021
Reference number: 2019.071
7. Study title: Validation of a Point-of-Care Prediction Model for Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2019 to 31 Dec 2020
Reference number: 14123618
8. Study title: Associations between changes in sleep duration and blood pressure across school holidays in sleep-deprived teenagers
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2018 to 30 Jun 2021
Reference number: 14169817
9. Study title: Smoking reduction intervention for smoking parents of paediatric patients in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Medical Research Fund - Research Fellowship Scheme
Study period: 1 Aug 2016 to 31 Jan 2019
Reference number: 01150077
10. Study title: A randomised study of surgical intervention for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnoea – neurocognitive perspective
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2016 to 30 Jun 2018
Reference number: 14113315
11. Study title: A randomized study of surgical intervention for childhood obstructive sleep apnoea – cardiovascular perspective
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2015 to 30 Jun 2018
Reference number: 14110614
12. Study title: Effects of positional and non-positional obstructive sleep apnoea on blood pressure in pre-pubertal children
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 1 Jun 2014 to 31 May 2015
Reference number: N.A.
13. Study title: A 10-year follow-up study on obstructive sleep apnoea in a population-based cohort: a cardiovascular perspective
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2014 to 31 Dec 2016
Reference number: CUHK470913
14. Study title: Reference range for brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in healthy Chinese children and adolescents
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Medical Research Fund
Study period: 1 Jan 2014 to 31 Dec 2015
Reference number: 01120406
15. Study title: Prospective study of the association between childhood primary snoring and cardiovascular health
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Medical Research Fund
Study period: 15 Nov 2013 to 14 Nov 2015
Reference number: 01120736
16. Study title: The effect of sleep duration on carotid intima-media thickness in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 1 Apr 2013 to 31 Mar 2014
Reference number: N.A.
17. Study title: Parent-based sleep education workshop for children with autism spectrum disorders
Funding source: Food and Health Bureau - Health Care and Promotion Fund
Study period: 1 Sep 2012 to 31 Aug 2013
Reference number: N.A.
18. Study title: Natural history of primary snoring in school-aged children
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 1 Apr 2012 to 31 Mar 2013
Reference number: N.A.
19. Study title: Family Studies in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Nov 2010 to 30 Apr 2014
Reference number: CUHK471210
20. Study title: Endothelial function in children with primary snoring: a case-control study
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 1 Jun 2010 to 31 May 2011
Reference number: N.A.
21. Study title: Prospective study of the association between childhood obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension
Funding source: RGC General Research Fund
Study period: 1 Oct 2008 to 31 Mar 2011
Reference number: CUHK470108
22. Study title: Ambulatory blood pressure in non-obese children with primary snoring
Funding source: CUHK Direct Grant
Study period: 1 Jun 2008 to 31 May 2009
Reference number: N.A.
Collaborative works
We work closely with our ENT colleagues, Drs. Dennis Lee and Natalie Leung, to investigate treatment effects of adenotonsillectomy on childhood OSA.
We collaborate with Dr. Savio Wong from the Department of Educational Psychology, CUHK to investigate the effects of sleep disorders, sleep architecture and sleep deprivation on neurocognitive function in children.
Research collaboration has also been established with Dr. Ronald LM Lui from the Department of Mathematics, CUHK to explore ways to quantify various physiological traits of sleep-related breathing and to see if these traits are better predictors of sleep apnoea severity and clinical outcomes.
Research linkage has also been established with Prof. Danny Eckert from the Flinders University in Australia to develop a physiological-based model to predict the treatment responses to surgical treatment in children with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Facilities available
Our sleep laboratory located in the Prince of Wales Hospital was established in 2002. It is a 2-bedded unit and it serves both clinical services and research purposes. Over the past 10 years, we have performed over 1,500 sleep studies on children.
News of the team
Recent research findings
Dr. Kate Chan has just completed a secondary analysis of the 10-year follow-up study of the Hong Kong Childhood OSA cohort and found that REM-related OSA was a stable phenotype through childhood to young adulthood, and it was associated with abnormal blood pressure. (Recently published online in Nature and Science of Sleep)
Ms. Cindy Yuen (PhD candidate) has discovered that reduced tongue mobility is a novel marker that associated with the occurrence and severity of OSA in prepubertal children. (Recently published online in Sleep)
Prof. Jun Au and Dr. Kate Chan conducted a prospective matched cohort study which demonstrated that childhood primary snoring is independently associated with poorer endothelial function, greater intima-media thickness and higher ambulatory blood pressure at 5-year follow-up. (Recently published online in Respirology)
Prof. Jun Au and Dr. Kate Chan completed a randomized trial confirming that improvements in OSA severity index and parent-reported symptoms after adenotonsillectomy in pre-pubertal school-aged children with mild obstructive sleep apnoea. However, no improvements in objective attention measures were found, and weight gain and elevated blood pressure were observed after surgery. (Recently published online in Respirology)
Cephalometric analysis using local deformation information can provide additional details on each cephalogram, hence, achieving better classification of OSA severity in children. (Presented by Ms. Cindy Yuen in 34thAnnual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies on Aug 27-30 2020)
Exposure to household environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is prevalent among Hong Kong young children, particularly in children with maternal smoking and lower socioeconomic status. More importantly, their exposure ETS was associated with respiratory symptoms and all-cause outpatient or inpatient medical service utilization. (Results published in PLoS One and Tobacco Induced Diseases)
Prof. Albert Li presented as a keynote speaker in recent international and Asian sleep conferences
3rd Congress of Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM)
in Beijing 20216th International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) Congress (Online 2021)
Awards of team members
Year 2 medical students, Ms. Kelly Cheung (Supervisor: Prof. Jun Au) and Ms. Emily Wong (Supervisor: Dr. Kate Chan) won the second prize for the best oral and poster presentations respectively in the Hong Kong Paediatric Society and Hong Kong College of Paediatricians Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2021.
Ms. Cindy Yuen obtained the Youth Travel Award for the abstract titled “Craniofacial Phenotyping By Photogrammetry In Hong Kong Chinese Prepubertal Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea”. Her study found that maxillary-mandibular relationship angle captured by photogrammetry was a feature that was found in both Asian and Caucasian OSA children. (3rd Congress of Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM), Beijing, May 14–17, 2021)
Opportunities to research students
Overnight sleep study (polysomnography) training
Students with interests in performing/analysing overnight sleep study will be provided on-site training to prepare them to sit for the international recognized examination offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists.
International exposure
Giving presentations in international conferences.
Potential collaborations with international experts.