Microbiota as the candidate biomarker in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a form of sleep‐disordered breathing in children. Recent studies have focused on characterizing microbiota alterations associated with pediatric OSA and identifying microbial features that may have potential value as future biomarkers. The most commonly used approach for microbiota profiling is second‐generation DNA sequencing technology, while oral and gut microbiota are influenced by inter‐individual variability and environmental factors. To date, studies have reported differences in microbial community diversity and the abundance of specific taxa between children with OSA and healthy controls. This review aims to summarize the current evidence regarding microbiota alterations associated with pediatric OSA, evaluates their potential as biomarker candidates, and discusses the challenges and future directions for clinical translation.