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Sleep disturbances in infants and young children following an acquired brain injury

Jamie M Klapp1, Trevor A Hall1,2, Andrew R Riley2

  • 1Pediatric Critical Care and Neurotrauma Recovery Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM : Official Publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
|July 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Sleep disturbances in infants with acquired brain injury (ABI) are linked to poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. Addressing sleep issues may improve recovery and long-term results for these young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurorehabilitation

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in older children and adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI).
  • Sleep's critical role in brain development and healing necessitates evaluating sleep in infants with ABI.
  • Existing research has underevaluated sleep disturbances in infants and young children post-ABI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sleep disturbances and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with ABI.
  • To compare sleep characteristics of infants with ABI to healthy controls.
  • To identify specific sleep parameters that correlate with cognitive and adaptive functioning.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 68 infants (2-32 months) hospitalized for ABI.
  • Sleep disturbances assessed using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire.
  • Neurodevelopmental and adaptive functioning evaluated with Bayley Scales and Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (3rd ed.).

Main Results:

  • Infants with ABI exhibited shorter nighttime sleep, longer daytime sleep, and more frequent nighttime awakenings compared to controls.
  • Increased nighttime awakenings negatively correlated with cognitive scores and general adaptive functioning.
  • Three or more nighttime awakenings significantly predicted worse adaptive functioning, even after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep disturbances are significantly associated with poorer neurodevelopmental and adaptive outcomes in infants following ABI.
  • Sleep is a crucial factor in recovery after acquired brain injury in young children.
  • Targeting sleep disturbances presents a potentially modifiable strategy to improve outcomes for infants with ABI.
Abstract

Keywords:
acquired brain injurydevelopmentinfantsleeptoddler

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