Pattern of sleep disorders among children with autism spectrum disorder

Sleep disorders (SDs) are among many co-morbid medical conditions that affect children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Raising awareness and improving the standard of care for children diagnosed with ASD may result from identifying SDs among them. This study aims to evaluate patterns of SDs among Sudanese children diagnosed with ASD.

Using the Childhood Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) to gather data on sleep disorders and SPSS version 26.0 for data analysis, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the five main autistic centres in Khartoum state covering all registered patients with ASD between April and June 2022. Ninety-two children diagnosed with ASD were enrolled in this study after the purpose of the research was explained and consent was obtained from their guardians. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

The mean age was 6.90 (± 2.6) years with a boys-to-girls ratio of 2.17:1. The prevalence of SDs (at least one sleep condition almost daily) was 95.65%. Sleep onset 71 (77.2%), limit setting 32 (32.6%), resistant onset to sleep 48 (52.2%), and combined 52 (56.5%) insomnia affected the majority of children. Additionally, there were significant associations between sex and Limit-setting insomnia, advanced sleep phase disorder, and narcolepsy type 2 (P values = 0.033, 0.009, and 0.037, respectively). Additionally, there was a significant association between age and sleep-related breathing disorders-snoring (p value = 0.031).

The frequency of SDs is significant among children diagnosed with ASD from Sudan, and certain SDs are associated with age and sex. Subsequent studies are required to develop national guidelines for the prevalence, presentation, screening, and treatment of SDs in children diagnosed with ASD.