Sleep study abnormalities in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Sleep Medicine
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with sleep disturbances.
• The specific polysomnographic findings in children with ADHD and various sleep complaints require detailed characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and describe the polysomnographic (PSG) findings in a cohort of children diagnosed with ADHD who presented with diverse sleep problems.
• To identify the prevalence of specific sleep disorders within this ADHD population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of polysomnographic data from 33 children (aged 3-16 years) with ADHD and sleep complaints.
• Comparison of sleep parameters between ADHD patients with and without sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and with normative control data.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of sleep disorders: obstructive sleep apnea (24%), periodic limb movements of sleep (30%), upper airway resistance syndrome (24%), and obstructive hypoventilation (15%).
• ADHD group exhibited poorer sleep efficiency, higher arousal index, increased wake after sleep onset, lower oxygen saturation nadir, and more snoring compared to controls.
• Children with ADHD and SDB were more obese and showed greater sleep architecture abnormalities, including increased sleep latency, REM latency, wake after sleep onset, and arousal index with oxygen desaturations.

Conclusions:

• Sleep disordered breathing and periodic limb movements of sleep are prevalent in children with ADHD experiencing disturbed sleep.
• These findings underscore the importance of polysomnographic evaluation in children with ADHD and sleep complaints to identify and manage co-existing sleep disorders.