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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
09:18

Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Published on: January 12, 2019

10.8K

Sleep Problems in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: The Impact on Motor, Cognitive, and Pulmonary Parameters

İrem Akar1, İpek Alemdaroğlu Gürbüz2, Öznur Tunca2

  • 1Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Journal of Child Neurology
|December 3, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Behavioral sleep problems are common in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but do not correlate with motor, cognitive, or lung function. Early screening for sleep issues in DMD is recommended.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disorder affecting muscle function.
  • Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in children with DMD, but their impact on clinical parameters is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between sleep parameters and motor performance, cognitive status, and pulmonary function in children with DMD.
  • To assess the prevalence of sleep problems and sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in ambulatory children with DMD.

Main Methods:

  • The study included 39 ambulatory children with DMD aged 5-12 years.
  • Sleep habits were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and sleep-disordered breathing (SRBD) using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire-sleep-related breathing disorders (PSQ-SRBD).
  • Motor performance, cognitive status, and pulmonary function were evaluated using standardized tests.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of behavioral sleep problems was observed (64.1%), while the risk for SRBD was not significantly increased (15.4%).
  • No significant associations were found between sleep problems and motor, cognitive, or pulmonary function parameters in children with DMD.
  • The mean CSHQ score was 44.79 ± 6.32, indicating prevalent sleep issues.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral sleep problems are highly prevalent in early-stage DMD but do not correlate with motor, cognitive, or pulmonary function.
  • Early screening for sleep problems in children with DMD is crucial, preceding clinical deterioration or overt symptoms.
  • Further research may explore the specific mechanisms linking sleep and DMD progression.

Keywords:
Duchenne muscular dystrophycognitionphysical functional performancepulmonary functionsleep

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