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Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational

Isabella Meneses da Silva1, Maria Clara Helena do Couto2, Sanseray da Silveira Cruz-Machado2

  • 1Undergraduate Program in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Marilia 17525-900, Brazil.

Neurology International
|July 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have high rates of sleep disturbances, especially sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study highlights the need for better diagnosis and management of sleep issues in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder often accompanied by sleep disturbances.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is a common but underdiagnosed issue in children with CP.
  • Limited diagnostic tools and access hinder OSA identification in this vulnerable group.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and severity of sleep disorders, focusing on OSA.
  • To compare sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with CP against typically developing peers.
  • To assess the utility of combined actigraphy and oximetry for OSA detection in CP.

Main Methods:

  • An observational, prospective study involving 28 children/adolescents with CP and 32 typically developing controls.
  • Sleep disturbances assessed via the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC).
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) evaluated using a Biologix system (oximetry, actigraphy, cloud-based algorithm) measuring SpO2, snoring, movement, and sleep time.

Main Results:

  • 92% of the CP group reported sleep disturbances (SDSC), versus 31% in controls.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was present in 64% of the CP group.
  • 100% of the CP group showed oxygen desaturation index (ODI) indicative of OSA, with lower SpO2, increased snoring, reduced sleep time, and longer sleep latency.

Conclusions:

  • Children and adolescents with CP exhibit a high prevalence of sleep disturbances.
  • There is a significant occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in this population.
  • These findings underscore the critical need for systematic sleep assessment and OSA screening in children with CP.
Abstract

Keywords:
cerebral palsychildrenoximetrysleep apnea syndromessleep disorders

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