Sleep Parameters and Motor Activity in Children With Nocturnal Enuresis and Daytime Urinary Incontinence.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Sleep Medicine
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Nocturnal enuresis (NE) and daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) are prevalent childhood conditions.
• These conditions are often linked to sleep disorders, potentially impacting physical activity.
• Objective assessment of sleep and activity in children with incontinence is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sleep quality and motor activity in children with NE and DUI.
• To compare objective sleep and activity data between incontinent children and controls.
• To explore correlations between incontinence, sleep parameters, and behavioral symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Actigraphy was used to objectively measure sleep quality and motor activity over 4 days and nights in 34 children with NE/DUI and 33 controls.
• Assessments included physical exams, bladder diaries, behavioral questionnaires (CBCL), psychiatric interviews, and intelligence tests.
• Participants ranged from 5 to 13 years old.

Main Results:

• Children with incontinence exhibited shorter wake times after sleep onset (WASO) and fewer awakenings than controls.
• No significant differences in sleep quality or daytime motor activity were found between incontinent children and controls, or between NE and DUI groups.
• Patients showed higher rates of behavioral problems (CBCL scores) and psychiatric disorders; sleep efficiency correlated with externalizing symptoms and voiding frequency.

Conclusions:

• Children with urinary incontinence display altered sleep patterns but not significantly different daytime activity levels.
• Sleep disturbances in these children are complex and may be influenced by psychiatric comorbidities.
• Actigraphy is a valuable tool for assessing children in naturalistic settings, highlighting the importance of considering sleep issues in clinical practice.