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Medical comorbidity of sleep disorders in children and adolescents
Helen Lazaratou1, Alexandra Soldatou, Dimitris Dikeos
1Athens University Medical School, 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. elazar@med.uoa.gr
Insights
Pediatric sleep disorders frequently co-occur with medical conditions like obesity and genetic disorders. Early identification and management of these comorbidities are crucial for children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Childhood Medical Comorbidities
Background:
- Sleep disorders are common in children and adolescents.
- These sleep issues often present alongside various medical conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent literature on medical comorbidities in pediatric sleep disorders.
- To highlight the frequent co-occurrence and its impact.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent findings.
- Synthesis of data on sleep disorders and associated medical conditions.
Main Results:
- Insomnia/short sleep linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, allergies, chronic pain, neoplasms, and genetic disorders.
- Hypersomnia associated with malignancies.
- Obstructive sleep apnea linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, endocrine, respiratory, and genetic conditions.
- Parasomnias require differentiation from nocturnal epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disorders and medical conditions frequently coexist in pediatric populations.
- This co-occurrence significantly affects overall health and quality of life.
Purpose Of Review:
Sleep disorders in children and adolescents often present with various medical comorbidities. The aim of this review is to present the recent literature findings on this issue.
Recent Findings:
The major medical comorbid conditions that accompany insomnia or short sleep duration in children and adolescents are obesity and metabolic syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, allergic conditions, various disorders accompanied by chronic pain, neoplasms and blood malignancies, and genetic and congenital disorders. Hypersomnia is mainly related to malignancies. Children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or sleep-disordered breathing may suffer from obesity and metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovaries, hypothyroidism, asthma, epilepsy, various ear nose throat disorders, congenital malformations or genetic conditions. Parasomnias may be comorbid with some medical conditions, but the main challenge in their evaluation is the differential diagnosis from nocturnal epileptic seizures.
Summary:
The co-occurrence of sleep disorders and medical conditions in childhood and adolescence is quite frequent and has an impact on general health and quality of life.
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