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Impact of COVID-19 on serum melatonin levels and sleep parameters in children

Özlem Yayıcı Köken1, Pembe Gültutan1, Merve Sibel Güngören2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s’ Hospital, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
|April 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) did not significantly alter children's sleep patterns. However, serum melatonin levels were higher in non-COVID-19 patients, suggesting a potential protective role for melatonin against severe COVID-19 in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect various physiological parameters.
  • Sleep disturbances are a common concern in children, especially during and after viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum melatonin levels in pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • To analyze changes in sleep patterns among children with COVID-19 compared to a control group.
  • To explore the potential impact of COVID-19 on pediatric sleep quality and melatonin regulation.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was employed.
  • Serum melatonin levels and sleep parameters were compared between children with mild to moderate COVID-19 and a control group with non-COVID-19 respiratory infections.
  • The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) questionnaire assessed sleep patterns at present and six months prior to symptom onset.

Main Results:

  • The study included 106 pediatric patients (80 in the COVID-19 group, 26 in the control group).
  • No significant differences in serum melatonin levels were observed between the COVID-19 and control groups (p = 0.16).
  • Sleep parameters, assessed via the SDSC questionnaire, showed no significant differences between groups at present or six months before symptom onset (p = 0.99).

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 infection did not appear to significantly impact the sleep parameters of pediatric patients.
  • While serum melatonin levels were elevated above the reference range in all children, they were higher in the control group.
  • Elevated melatonin levels in COVID-19 patients suggest a potential protective role against disease severity in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Melatoninchildrenpediatricsleep

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