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Prevalence and Correlates of Sleep Problems in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Youssef A Alqahtani1, Ayed A Shati1, Samy A Dawood1
1Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Sleep problems are common in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), linked to guardian education, income, glucose control, and household smoking. Addressing these factors is crucial for managing T1DM in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Sleep disturbances, including nighttime awakenings, negatively impact daily functioning and glycemic control in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).
- These sleep issues can create a detrimental cycle affecting overall health and adherence to diabetes management.
- Understanding the factors associated with sleep problems is vital for comprehensive T1DM care in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of sleep problems in children and adolescents diagnosed with T1DM.
- To identify significant health-related and sociodemographic correlates of sleep disturbances in this population.
- To elucidate the complex relationships influencing sleep quality among young T1DM patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 248 children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years) with T1DM in Abha, Saudi Arabia.
- Data were collected via validated sleep assessments, demographic surveys, and diabetes-related factor evaluations during routine clinic visits.
- Statistical analysis, including Chi-square tests, was performed using Python to determine associations (P≤0.05).
Main Results:
- 37.5% of children with T1DM experienced sleep problems, with a mean age of 10-12 years and predominantly male participants (86.29%).
- Significant associations were found between sleep disturbance and guardian's marital status, education level, household income, glucose levels, testing frequency, and passive smoking exposure.
- No significant correlation was observed between sleep problems and the insulin administration method or comorbidities.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems in children with T1DM are associated with a multifactorial interplay of socioeconomic status, environmental exposures like secondhand smoke, and glycemic control.
- These findings underscore the necessity of integrating assessments of environmental and socioeconomic factors into the management of T1DM in children.
- Targeted interventions addressing these correlates may improve sleep quality and overall health outcomes for pediatric T1DM patients.
Background:
In children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), disrupted sleep such as frequent nighttime awakenings can impair daily functioning and glycemic control, creating a harmful cycle that affects overall health and treatment adherence.
Objective:
To elucidate the relationships between health-related variables, sociodemographic factors, and the prevalence of sleep problems in children and adolescents with T1DM and to identify significant correlates.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024, involving 248 children and adolescents with T1DM in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using consecutive sampling of eligible patients attending the clinic until the sample size of 248 was met. Participants aged 6-18 years with confirmed T1DM were included, excluding those with other types of diabetes or comorbid sleep problems. Data collection involved validated sleep assessments, demographic surveys, and evaluations of diabetes-related factors during routine clinic visits. Chi-square analysis was employed to assess associations, with statistical significance set at P≤0.05 using Python Jupyter Notebook.
Results:
Among children with T1DM (mean age 10-12 years; 86.29% male), 37.5% had sleep problems. About 45.16% had glucose levels between 6-8 mmol/L, and 48.79% tested daily. Nearly 48% were exposed to household smoking. Significant associations were found between sleep disturbance and guardian marital status (P=0.045), education level (P=0.001), household income (P<0.001), glucose levels (P<0.001), testing frequency (P<0.001), and passive smoking (P=0.001). No link was observed with insulin method or comorbidities.
Conclusion:
This study reveals a complex interplay of factors associated with sleep problems in children with T1DM. The findings highlight the importance of considering environmental factors (such as secondhand smoke), socioeconomic status, and glycemic control in T1DM management.
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