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Sleep tracking and sleep hygiene counseling improve fatigue in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Sydney Kuzoian1, Bradley Jerson1, Michael Brimacombe2
1Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Insights
Sleep tracking and counseling improve sleep and reduce fatigue in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These simple interventions offer a promising way to enhance sleep quality and manage fatigue in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Sleep Medicine
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Fatigue and poor sleep are common in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Few studies have investigated interventions to improve sleep in this population.
- Understanding sleep patterns is crucial for managing IBD symptoms in adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if sleep tracking and sleep hygiene counseling can improve sleep behaviors and reduce fatigue in children and adolescents with IBD.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined sleep intervention approach.
- To identify simple, accessible methods for enhancing sleep quality in IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- Patients aged 12-20 with IBD in remission were enrolled.
- Interventions included sleep tracking and sleep hygiene counseling, with outcomes measured using validated scales and sleep logs.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in sleep/rest fatigue scores were observed in both intervention groups.
- Sleep hygiene counseling led to a notable increase in participants avoiding electronic screens before bed.
- Forty-three patients were randomized, with data analyzed from sleep logs and fatigue scales.
Conclusions:
- Sleep tracking combined with in-person sleep counseling positively impacts fatigue and sleep behaviors in pediatric IBD patients.
- These interventions demonstrate potential for improving sleep and reducing fatigue.
- Simple, accessible strategies can enhance the quality of life for children and adolescents with IBD.
Objectives:
While the presence of fatigue and inadequate sleep are well-described in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), little data exist on potential sleep improvement interventions. We aimed to determine if sleep tracking and sleep hygiene counseling can result in sleep behavior change and reduced fatigue in children/adolescents with IBD.
Methods:
This was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Patients 12-20 years old with IBD, in clinical remission, completed validated Pediatric Quality of Life-Multidimensional Fatigue Scales (PedsQL-MDFS). Those who were found to have impaired sleep/rest fatigue (score <60) were randomized 1:1 into two intervention groups (A and B). Both groups were asked to track their sleep for 2 weeks using a standardized sleep log. Group B also had in-person sleep hygiene counseling. Outcomes were assessed 2 weeks after intervention implementation through repeat PedsQL-MDFS, self-reported behavior change surveys, and analysis of 2-week sleep logs.
Results:
Sixty-six patients were enrolled. The mean age was 16.5 years, 53% male, 71% Crohn's disease, and 25% ulcerative colitis. Forty-three patients met criteria for randomization into the intervention groups. There was a significant improvement in the PedsQL-MDFS Sleep/Rest Fatigue score in both intervention groups. Sleep hygiene counseling for Group B resulted in a significant increase in patients putting their electronic screens away 30 min before bedtime.
Conclusion:
Sleep tracking and in-person sleep counseling positively impact sleep/rest fatigue scores and sleep behavior change. These simple interventions hold the promise of improving sleep and fatigue in children and adolescents with IBD.
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