Ultrasound Assessment of Tongue Characteristics in Adolescents With Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Disorders

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity & Overweight Sleep, Obstructive Sleep Disordered Breathing, Pediatric Obesity

In brief

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), represents a significant yet underdiagnosed condition in the pediatric population, particularly among adolescents with obesity. The tongue is a central anatomical contributor to upper airway collapsibility; however, its biomechanical properties have been investigated almost exclusively in adult populations, leaving a critical gap in knowledge regarding younger individuals. This study aims to assess tongue biomechanical and echographic characteristics using quantitative ultrasound modalities - shear-wave elastography (SWE), acoustic attenuation, and echo intensity - in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with obesity and obstructive sleep disorders. The study adopts a mixed design combining (1) an observational cross-sectional comparison between participants with obesity and OSDB and age- and sex-matched healthy controls at baseline, and (2) a prospective longitudinal cohort component evaluating changes in tongue ultrasound characteristics over the course of a 30-week multidisciplinary inpatient weight-loss program delivered as standard care at the Zeepreventorium (De Haan, Belgium). An additionnal methodological objective consists in determining intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the ultrasound acquisition protocol providing a reproducible framework for future studies.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07613944

Run by

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

People needed

80

Starts

2026-09-01

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-29

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Aged 12-18 years
• Already enrolled in Zeepreventorium weight-loss program as Standard Care Diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (AHI ≥ 1)1 or any Obstructive sleep disordered breathing detected by any of the specific sleep questionnaire (OSA-18, ESS, SSS-Ad, PDSS)

You may not qualify if…

• Any other orthopedic, traumatic, or rheumatologic condition affecting the cervicocephalic region
• Syndromic or neuromuscular disorders
• Cognitive impairment limiting compliance with study procedures
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Self-reported alcohol or recreational drug consumption within 48 hours preceding the experimental session

Where it is running

• KidZ Health Castle - Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Brussels - Health Campus Avenue du Laerbeek 101 1090 Jette — Brussels, Belgium
• Zeepreventorium, Koninklijke Baan 5, 8420 De Haan — De Haan, Belgium

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.