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Published on: June 13, 2025

Sleep Disturbance Patterns in Children with Leukemia and Lymphoma: Domain-Specific Associations with Hospitalization

Mehtap Ertekin1, Salih Gozmen1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Izmir City Hospital, Şevket Ince Mahallesi, 2148/11 Sokak, No. 1/11, Bayraklı, 35540 Izmir, Türkiye.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|August 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with leukemia and lymphoma experience more sleep disturbances, particularly sleep anxiety and parasomnias. Recent hospitalization and parental education are key factors influencing sleep burden in pediatric hematology-oncology patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Supportive Care

Background:

  • Sleep disturbance is increasingly recognized as a critical component of supportive care in pediatric oncology.
  • Limited research exists on the specific sleep characteristics of children with leukemia and lymphoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the sleep characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma.
  • To compare sleep patterns between pediatric cancer patients and a healthy control group.
  • To identify correlates of sleep disturbance in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 54 pediatric leukemia/lymphoma patients and 56 healthy controls.
  • Sleep assessment using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
  • Multivariable linear regression to identify factors associated with sleep disturbance, including parental education, recent hospitalization, and corticosteroid exposure.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric cancer patients exhibited significantly higher global CSHQ scores compared to controls (p=0.005).
  • Sleep disturbances were most pronounced in sleep anxiety and parasomnias; sleep duration did not differ significantly.
  • In the overall sample, patient status and higher parental education were independently associated with sleep disturbance. Recent hospitalization was the strongest clinical correlate within the patient group.

Conclusions:

  • Children with leukemia and lymphoma present with a distinct pattern of parent-reported sleep disturbance, primarily involving sleep anxiety and parasomnias.
  • Recent hospitalization and parental educational attainment are significant correlates of sleep burden in pediatric hematology-oncology care.
  • These findings highlight the need for targeted sleep support strategies in this vulnerable patient population.

Keywords:
Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnairecorticosteroidshospitalizationleukemialymphomaparental educationpediatric oncologysleep disturbance

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