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Prevalence of sleep problems in Hong Kong primary school children: a community-based telephone survey
Daniel K Ng1, Ka-Li Kwok, Josephine M Cheung
1Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Waterloo Rd, Hong Kong SAR, ROC. dkkng@ha.org.hk
Insights
This study surveyed 3,047 Hong Kong children, finding habitual snoring in 10.9% and sleep teeth grinding in 20.5%. It identified key risk factors for these common childhood sleep disorders.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sleep disorders are prevalent in children, impacting health and development.
- Limited epidemiological data exists for sleep disorders in Hong Kong primary school children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of snoring, sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and nocturnal enuresis in Hong Kong primary school children.
- To identify risk factors associated with these sleep disorders.
- To assess sleep duration in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional telephone questionnaire survey was conducted.
- 3,047 apparently healthy children aged 6-12 years participated.
- Data collected included symptoms of sleep disorders and sleep duration over the past week.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates: habitual snoring (10.9%), witnessed sleep apnea (1.5%), nocturnal enuresis (5.1%), sleep teeth grinding (20.5%).
- Risk factors for snoring included witnessed sleep apnea, mouth breathing, family history, and allergic rhinitis.
- Witnessed sleep apnea was linked to habitual snoring, allergic rhinitis, and daytime sleepiness. Poor academic performance correlated with witnessed sleep apnea.
- Mean sleep duration was 8.79 hours.
Conclusions:
- This study provides crucial epidemiological data on sleep-disordered breathing, enuresis, sleep teeth grinding, and sleep duration in Hong Kong Chinese children.
- Findings highlight the need for increased awareness and potential interventions for childhood sleep disorders.
- Further research can explore targeted interventions based on identified risk factors.
Study Objectives:
To estimate the prevalence of snoring, witnessed sleep apnea, teeth grinding, primary and secondary nocturnal enuresis, and sleep duration in Hong Kong primary school children.
Design:
Cross-sectional telephone questionnaire survey in a community.
Participants:
A total of 3,047 6- to 12-year-old apparently healthy children.
Intervention:
Those who agreed to the study were contacted by telephone. Survey questions were asked about the symptoms of the different sleep disorders, and the frequency of each positive symptom was noted for the preceding 1 week.
Outcome Measures:
Prevalence and risk factors of sleep disorders in Hong Kong primary school children.
Results:
The prevalence of the following sleep symptoms was listed as follows: habitual snoring (10.9%), witnessed sleep apnea (1.5%), nocturnal enuresis (5.1%), and sleep teeth grinding (20.5%). Significant risk factors for habitual snoring included witnessed sleep apnea, mouth breathing during sleep, snoring in first-degree relatives, headache on rising, male gender, allergic rhinitis, and sleep teeth grinding. Significant risk factors for witnessed sleep apnea included habitual snoring, allergic rhinitis, tiredness on rising, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Poor academic results were associated with present of witnessed sleep apnea and absence of sleep teeth grinding. None of the sleep problem was associated with poor conduct results. The mean sleep duration was 8.79 h (SD 0.96).
Conclusions:
This study provides epidemiologic data of sleep-disordered breathing, enuresis, sleep teeth grinding, and duration of sleep in Chinese primary school children in Hong Kong.
