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Sleep and neurobehavioral functioning in survivors of pediatric cancer

Kaitlin A Oswald1, Annette Richard1, Elise Hodges1

  • 1University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, USA.

Sleep Medicine
|January 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Daytime sleepiness affects about a third of pediatric cancer survivors and is linked to significant neurobehavioral issues. Addressing sleep is crucial for improving outcomes in these young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep problems are a frequent long-term complication in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • Impaired sleep functioning is increasingly linked to detrimental neurobehavioral outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of sleep concerns reported by parents in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • To examine the association between sleep quality and neurobehavioral functioning using parent and teacher perspectives.

Main Methods:

  • The study involved 75 pediatric cancer survivors (ages 6-17) and their parent-teacher dyads.
  • Neuropsychological evaluations included measures of sleep (daytime sleepiness, snoring) and neurobehavioral function.
  • Bivariate correlations and multiple linear regressions analyzed the sleep-neurobehavioral relationship.

Main Results:

  • Daytime sleepiness was prevalent in 28% of survivors, with no significant differences based on demographics, diagnosis, or treatment.
  • Elevated daytime sleepiness correlated with poorer outcomes in attention, behavior, peer relations, mood, and aggression.
  • Snoring was not a significant concern, and daytime sleepiness did not relate to learning problems.

Conclusions:

  • Daytime sleepiness affects approximately one-third of pediatric cancer survivors, impacting neurobehavioral functioning at home and school.
  • Sleep assessment should be integrated into routine pediatric cancer survivorship care.
  • Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify the causal relationship between sleep and neurobehavioral outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Daytime sleepinessNeurobehavioralPediatric cancerThe pediatric sleep questionnaire

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