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Published on: October 18, 2024
Longitudinal association between sleep features and refractive errors in preschoolers from the EDEN birth-cohort
Alexis Rayapoullé1,2, Claude Gronfier3, Anne Forhan1
1CRESS, Inserm, INRAE, Université de Paris, 75004, Paris, France.
Insights
Children's sleep patterns at age 2, including duration and timing, are linked to refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia by age 5. Improving sleep hygiene may help prevent vision problems in young children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Sleep Science
Background:
- Refractive errors are a significant global health concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Sleep patterns and circadian rhythms are increasingly recognized as potential influencing factors in visual development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep duration and timing in early childhood and the subsequent development of refractive errors.
- To explore the role of sleep hygiene in the prevention of vision problems in preschoolers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1130 children in the EDEN birth-cohort, collecting parental reports on sleep at ages 2 and 5.
- Assessed refractive error status (including myopia and hyperopia) at age 5.
- Analyzed associations between sleep variables (duration, bedtime, midsleep) at age 2 and eyeglass prescription at age 5, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- At age 5, 20.4% of children required eyeglasses, with hyperopia being the most common prescription.
- A U-shaped association was found between sleep duration at age 2 and eyeglass prescription at age 5.
- Later bedtime and midsleep times at age 2 were associated with an increased risk of needing glasses by age 5, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Early childhood sleep duration and timing are associated with the risk of developing refractive errors.
- Sleep hygiene practices in early life may represent a modifiable target for preventing refractive errors in children.
Abstract:
Refractive errors are common, especially in children and adolescents, leading to global health issues, academic implications and economic costs. Circadian rhythm and sleep habits may play a role. The study included 1130 children from the EDEN birth-cohort. Data were collected through parental questionnaires at age 2 and 5 for sleep duration and timing, and at age 5 for refractive error. At 5 years, 20.4% were prescribed glasses (2% for myopia, 11.9% for hyperopia and 6.8% for unknown reason). Children slept on average (SD) 11h05/night (± 30 min) and 10h49/night (± 48 min) at age 2 and 5, respectively. Average bedtime and midsleep was 8.36 pm (± 30 min), 2.06 am (± 36 min), and 8.54 pm (± 30 min), 2.06 am (± 24 min) at age 2 and 5, respectively. A U-shaped association was observed between sleep duration at age 2 and eyeglass prescription at age 5. Later midsleep and bedtime at age 2 were associated with an increased risk of eyeglass prescription at age 5. Associations became borderline significant after adjustment for confounding factors. Sleep duration and timing at age 2 were associated with subsequent refractive errors in preschoolers from general population. Sleep hygiene might be a target for refractive errors prevention.
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