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Sleep disorders in children after treatment for a CNS tumour

Lisa M Verberne1, Heleen Maurice-Stam, Martha A Grootenhuis

  • 1Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Journal of Sleep Research
|July 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors experience increased daytime sleepiness and sleep problems. This somnolence significantly worsens fatigue and daily functioning, impacting quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Improving survival rates for pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors lead to focus on late effects.
  • Altered sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness are common late effects in childhood cancer survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness in children with CNS tumors.
  • To assess associations between sleep issues, clinical characteristics, and daily functioning (fatigue, psychosocial).

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study at a children's hospital outpatient clinic.
  • Compared 31 CNS tumor patients with 78 non-CNS malignancy patients and norm data.
  • Utilized validated questionnaires for sleep disorders, sleepiness, quality of life, and psychosocial functioning.

Main Results:

  • CNS tumor patients exhibited increased somnolence compared to non-CNS malignancy patients (P<0.05).
  • Both patient groups reported more sleep initiation/maintenance problems than norms (P<0.01).
  • Excessive somnolence correlated with lower fatigue-related quality of life (QoL) and worse psychosocial functioning.

Conclusions:

  • Children treated for CNS tumors experience significant somnolence, contributing to increased fatigue and impaired daily functioning.
  • Further research is needed to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue in this population.

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