Influence of age and gender on reference values for common pediatric sleep questionnaires: Results from a...

Sleep problems are often assessed using questionnaires, but it is unclear whether the responses given are influenced by age and gender. We addressed this question in several widely used pediatric sleep questionnaires and provide age-dependent percentile curves.

Data of a community-based study in schoolchildren were reanalyzed (N = 163, 50% males, age 6-17 years). Children and their parents completed the Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder Scale (SRBDS) of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), the Sleep Self Report (SSR) of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire in a long and short version, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in a parent- (ESSp) and self-report version for children (ESSc), and the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Linear and quantile regression analysis was used to i) assess the influence of age and gender on scores of questionnaire scales/subscales, ii) to calculate age- and gender-appropriate reference values and iii) to provide age-depending percentile curves.

Only the PDSS showed relevant gender differences (β [95th confidence interval] = 0.155 [0.000; 0.270], p-value = 0.04, reference category: male), while the following subscales were all age dependent: SRBDS-somnolence and behavioral subscales, SDSC-somnolence subscale, SSR-long and short version; ESSp and ESSc, as well as the PDSS.

Age and gender should be taken into account for research purposes and individual patient assessments regarding sleep problems. Preliminary age- and gender-appropriate reference values and percentile curves are now available and may be used by researchers and clinicians.