Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
Sleep disorders in children with chronic kidney disease
Amira H Darwish1, Hend Abdel-Nabi2
1Pediatric Department, Pediatric Neurology Unit, Tanta University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
Insights
Sleep disturbances are common in Egyptian children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting over 75%. These include restless legs syndrome (RLS) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), impacting both dialysis and non-dialysis patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly impacts children's health and quality of life.
- Sleep disorders are increasingly recognized as a complication in pediatric CKD.
- Limited data exists on sleep disorder prevalence in Egyptian pediatric CKD populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in Egyptian children with CKD.
- To compare sleep disorder rates between CKD patients (on and off hemodialysis) and healthy controls.
- To identify specific sleep disturbances common in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 95 children (54 CKD patients, 41 controls).
- CKD patients were stratified into hemodialysis (HD) and non-HD groups.
- Sleep quality (CSHQ), daytime sleepiness (ESS), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) were assessed using validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of sleep disturbances (75.9%) was observed in children with CKD.
- Prevalence was higher in children on HD (81.8%) versus not on HD (71.8%).
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and RLS symptoms were reported in 22% and 20.4% of CKD patients, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in children with CKD.
- Common sleep issues include restless legs syndrome (RLS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
- These findings underscore the need for routine sleep assessment in pediatric CKD management.
Background And Objectives:
This case-control study assessed the prevalence of sleep disorders among Egyptian children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), either maintained or not maintained on hemodialysis (HD), and compared them with healthy age and sex-matched children.
Patients And Methods:
The total study population included 95 children, 54 of whom were CKD patients, 22 maintained on HD and 32 not maintained on HD; 41 healthy children of matched age and sex composed the control group.Subjective impairment of sleep quality was assessed using the Arabic version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Daytime sleepiness and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were assessed using a pediatric modification of the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and RLS Questionnaire, respectively.
Results:
Sleep disturbances were detected in 75.9% of the studied children with CKD: 81.8% in children with CKD undergoing dialysis, and 71.8% in children with CKD not on dialysis. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and RLS symptoms were reported in 22% and 20.4% of the studied children with CKD, respectively.
Conclusions:
Sleep disturbances are very common among children with CKD. Sleep disturbances in patients with CKD include restless legs syndrome (RLS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), behavioral insomnias, and parasomnias.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...

