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Symptoms of dysautonomia, sleep disturbance, and abnormal cognition in pediatric heart failure

J Menteer1, M S Woo, J D So

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. jmenteer@chla.usc.edu

Pediatric Cardiology
|July 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric heart failure patients frequently experience autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia) and sleep disturbances. These symptoms are common in children with dilated cardiomyopathy, similar to adults, but cognitive issues require further study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Research
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Adult heart failure commonly involves sleep disorders, autonomic dysfunction, and cognitive issues, impacting outcomes.
  • The prevalence of these comorbidities in pediatric heart failure is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of symptoms related to autonomic dysfunction in children with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
  • To investigate the co-occurrence of sleep problems and abnormal cognition in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (1999-2005) with dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • Analysis of patient records for symptoms of dysautonomia, sleep disturbance, and abnormal cognition in patients aged 7-18 years.

Main Results:

  • Of 69 eligible pediatric patients, 80% exhibited symptoms of dysautonomia.
  • 29% showed evidence of sleep disturbance, while only 4% had documented abnormal cognition.
  • Findings suggest dysautonomia and sleep issues are prevalent in pediatric heart failure.

Conclusions:

  • Autonomic dysfunction and sleep disturbances are common in children with heart failure, mirroring adult patient populations.
  • Cognitive deficits in this group could not be reliably assessed due to limited data.
  • Sleep symptoms may be underrecognized in pediatric heart failure patients.

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