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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Behavior, neurocognition and quality-of-life in children with sleep-disordered breathing
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980146, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. rbmitchell@vcu.edu
Insights
Sleep-disordered breathing in children is linked to behavioral and cognitive issues, impacting their quality of life. Treatment, such as adenotonsillectomy, can improve these outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is increasingly recognized in children.
- Evidence suggests a link between SDB and adverse outcomes in children.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing research on the relationship between SDB in children and behavioral, neurocognitive, and quality-of-life problems.
- To identify areas for future research in SDB and its impact on child development.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted using PUBMED.
- Searched for studies published between January 1990 and December 2004.
- Included studies meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Main Results:
- 33 articles involving 22,255 children (ages 2-18) were analyzed.
- SDB was associated with behavioral issues (attention deficits, hyperactivity, aggression) and neurocognitive deficits (memory, attention, intelligence).
- Quality of life in affected children was comparable to those with chronic conditions like asthma; adenotonsillectomy showed improvements.
Conclusions:
- Strong evidence supports the association between SDB in children and behavioral/neurocognitive problems, reducing quality of life.
- Adenotonsillectomy can improve behavior, neurocognition, and quality of life in children with SDB.
- Future research should standardize SDB diagnostic criteria and outcome assessment methods, prioritizing this public health concern.
Objectives:
To summarize current evidence that sleep-disordered breathing in children is associated with behavioral, neurocognitive and quality-of-life problems and to suggest new lines of investigation for future research on sleep-disordered breathing and behavior.
Methods:
A comprehensive review of the medical literature between January 1990 and December 2004 was performed using the National Library of Medicine's PUBMED database.
Results:
Analysis revealed 33 articles that satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The total study population in these articles was 22,255 children. Sample sizes per study ranged from 12 to 5728 children. The age range was 2-18 years (mean 6.8+/-2.8). The majority of studies examined behavior, neurocognition or quality-of-life as a single outcome measure. Behavioral problems included reduced attention, hyperactivity, increased aggression, irritability, emotional and peer problems, and somatic complaints. The following neurocognitive skills were affected: memory; immediate recall; visual-spatial functions; attention and vigilance; mental flexibility; and intelligence. The quality-of-life of children with sleep-disordered breathing was similar that of children with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis. Improvements in behavior, neurocognition and quality-of-life scores for children with sleep-disordered breathing were seen after adenotonsillectomy.
Conclusions:
There is compelling evidence that sleep-disordered breathing in children is associated with behavioral and neurocognitive problems and leads to reduced quality-of-life. In addition to improvements in sleep, adenotonsillectomy is associated with improvements in behavior, neurocognition and quality-of-life in these children. However, the lack of uniform criteria for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing in children and variation in methods used to assess the outcome of surgical therapy limit our current knowledge and should be addressed by future research. The high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in children should make this research a public health priority.
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