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Effects of sleep disturbance on neuropsychological functioning in patients with pediatric brain tumor

Jenna A Chiang1,2, Paulina T Feghali1,2, Anita Saavedra1,2

  • 1Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Journal of Neuro-Oncology
|January 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric brain tumor patients often have sleep problems, including shorter sleep duration and daytime napping. Poor sleep in these children is linked to worse adaptive and executive functioning, impacting their long-term outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children with pediatric brain tumors (PBT).
  • Existing research on sleep and cognition in typically developing children is extensive, but limited in PBT populations.
  • PBT patients face unique challenges that may exacerbate sleep issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of sleep factors on patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in children with PBT.
  • To assess the relationship between sleep patterns and adaptive/executive functioning in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 133 PBT patients (ages 5-23).
  • Neuropsychological evaluation including adaptive and executive functioning assessments.
  • Collection of subjective sleep concerns, nocturnal sleep duration, and daytime napping behavior, compared to age-based guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Nearly 30% of PBT patients reported sleep concerns.
  • The study sample exhibited reduced nocturnal sleep duration (approx. 1 hour less than recommended).
  • Almost half of patients reported regular daytime napping, deviating from typical monophasic sleep patterns.
  • Inadequate sleep was significantly associated with decreased adaptive functioning (p=.022) and increased executive dysfunction symptoms (p=.003).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric brain tumor patients frequently display abnormal sleep patterns.
  • These sleep abnormalities correlate with poorer long-term patient-reported outcomes.
  • Further research is needed to understand the interplay of diagnostic, treatment, and demographic factors to guide interventions for sleep issues in PBT.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adaptive functioningBrain tumorExecutive functioningPatient reported outcome (PRO)Sleep

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