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Sleep patterns in pediatric sickle cell disease

Lauren C Daniel1, Mitzie Grant, Sanjeev V Kothare

  • 1Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. lcd34@drexel.edu

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|July 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience more night waking and sleep-disordered breathing behaviors than healthy children. These sleep issues are linked to disease severity, complications, and socioeconomic status.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Limited research exists on general sleep behaviors in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).
  • Previous studies focused on specific sleep disorders like sleep-disordered breathing and hypoxemia in this population.
  • Understanding general sleep patterns is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare sleep patterns and behaviors in children with SCD versus healthy controls.
  • To investigate associations between demographic/disease factors and sleep in children with SCD.

Main Methods:

  • Parents of children aged 4-10 with SCD (n=54) and healthy controls (n=52) completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire.
  • Demographic and disease factors (genotype, healthcare use, complications, SES) were reviewed from medical charts for the SCD group.

Main Results:

  • Children with SCD showed significantly more night waking and sleep-disordered breathing behaviors than controls.
  • In the SCD group, parasomnias correlated with socioeconomic status (SES), enuresis, severe genotypes, SCD complications, and healthcare use.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing was associated with SES, enuresis, and SCD complications.

Conclusions:

  • Children with SCD exhibit more disrupted sleep than peers with similar backgrounds, highlighting the need for routine sleep assessment.
  • Higher rates of reported sleep-disordered breathing and night waking necessitate interventions to improve sleep quality and daytime function.
  • Addressing sleep disruptions can enhance the overall quality of life for children with SCD.
Abstract

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