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Sleep problems in a Down syndrome population

M Carter1, E McCaughey, D Annaz

  • 1School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|September 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with Down syndrome experience widespread sleep issues, including resistance to bedtime, anxiety, night waking, and daytime sleepiness. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness and intervention for sleep problems in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Genetics and Rare Diseases

Background:

  • Sleep problems are common in children with Down syndrome.
  • Understanding the prevalence and nature of these sleep issues is crucial for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of sleep problems in children with Down syndrome.
  • To compare sleep patterns in children with Down syndrome to typically developing children.

Main Methods:

  • A community-based prevalence study was conducted in England.
  • The study involved 58 children with Down syndrome aged 0.65 to 17.9 years.
  • The Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire was used to collect data.

Main Results:

  • Children with Down syndrome exhibited significantly higher rates of bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, night waking, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness compared to typically developing peers.
  • Among children aged 4 and older, 66% rarely fell asleep in their own beds, 55% were restless during sleep, and 40% woke at least once nightly.
  • A substantial 78% of children appeared tired during the day at least twice weekly, indicating insufficient sleep.

Conclusions:

  • Parents report near-universal sleep problems in school-aged children with Down syndrome.
  • Pediatricians should routinely assess sleep behavior in children with Down syndrome.
  • Addressing these sleep issues may improve overall well-being and development.
Abstract

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