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Sleep problems in infancy and early school age in very preterm infants

Johanna Neitmann1, Kathrin Hanke1, Alexander Humberg1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.

Early Human Development
|August 20, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal exposure to sedatives and analgesics, not gestational age, is linked to long-term sleep problems in very-preterm infants. These sleep issues also correlate with hyperactivity and inattention in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric sleep medicine
  • Developmental pediatrics

Background:

  • Sleep is crucial for infant health, particularly for high-risk infants like preterm babies.
  • Preterm infants face increased risks of neurodevelopmental impairments, including sleep disturbances.
  • Understanding sleep patterns in preterm infants is vital for their long-term well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors for persistent sleep impairment in very-preterm (VPT) infants.
  • To investigate the association between neonatal factors and sleep problems at five years of age.
  • To explore sleep habits in VPT infants during toddlerhood.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of 2928 VPT infants (born <32 weeks gestation) using parental questionnaires at age five.
  • Analysis of sleep behavior, delayed sleep onset, and hyperactivity/inattention using univariate and logistic regression.
  • Evaluation of sleep habits in a second cohort of 342 VPT infants during toddlerhood.

Main Results:

  • 14.5% of VPT children had delayed sleep onset at school age; 16.7% had sleep impairment as toddlers.
  • Gestational age was not an independent risk factor for sleep problems.
  • Neonatal exposure to analgesics and sedatives was significantly associated with a higher risk of sleep problems and hyperactivity/inattention.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems in very-preterm infants are not linked to gestational age, suggesting individual risk factors.
  • Neonatal exposure to analgesics and sedatives may be a significant contributor to long-term sleep impairment.
  • Addressing neonatal medication exposure could be key to mitigating sleep issues in VPT infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Preterm infantsSedativesSleep impairmentSleep problems

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