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Sleep problems among children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)- an explorative study

Katarzyna Anna Dylag1, Bożena Bando2, Zbigniew Baran3

  • 1St. Louis Children Hospital, Strzelecka 2, 31-503, Kraków, Poland. katarzyna.dylag@dzieciecyszpital.pl.

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|May 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) experience significantly more sleep problems, including disturbed sleep architecture and breathing issues, compared to typically developing peers. These findings highlight sleep disturbances as a critical health concern in FASD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) result from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and cause central nervous system impairment.
  • Neuropsychological symptoms are common in FASD, but sleep disorders are not well understood.
  • Investigating sleep problems in children with FASD is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sleep problems in children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
  • To compare sleep patterns and disturbances between children with FASD and typically developing children.

Main Methods:

  • A two-phase study involving 40 children with FASD and 40 controls.
  • Phase 1 utilized the Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) for caregiver screening.
  • Phase 2 involved in-lab polysomnography (PSG) for FASD participants scoring above 41 on CSHQ.

Main Results:

  • Sleep disturbances were significantly higher in the FASD group (55%) compared to controls (20%).
  • FASD patients showed increased risk for sleep onset delay, night wakings, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness.
  • Polysomnography revealed more arousals and higher respiratory indices in children with FASD.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep disorders are a significant health issue for individuals with FASD.
  • Distorted sleep architecture and apneic/hypopneic events warrant further clinical attention in FASD management.
Abstract

Keywords:
Fetal alcohol spectrum disordersPartial fetal alcohol syndromePrenatal alcohol exposureSleep disordersalcohol related neurodevelopmental disordersfetal alcohol syndrome

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