STUDY OF SLEEP PATTERNS IN CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Abstract

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood that progressively increased in prevalence and severity. Asthma seems to be a risk factor for disturbed sleep as asthma symptoms often worsen at night. Objective: to assess sleep behavior in children with bronchial asthma and to assess to what extent sleep quality is affected by the severity and level of control of bronchial asthma. Method: This case control study included 85 children aged 6-18 years; 60 of them had bronchial asthma and 25 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group. The studied asthmatic children were categorized into 3 groups: 20 had mild persistent asthma, 20 had moderate persistent asthma, and 20 had severe persistent asthma. They were recruited during the period from April 2015 to July 2017.They were subjected to full history taking, pulmonary function tests, children sleep habit questionnaire (CSHQ) and polysomnography. Results: This study demonstrated significant impairment of sleep quality in asthmatic children that was correlated with asthma severity and level of control. Children with asthma had significant lower scores of CSHQ than healthy control group. Regarding polysomnography, children with asthma had significant decrease in sleep efficiency, duration of deep sleep and significant increase in arousal index, respiratory disruption index, sleep latency and end tidal CO2 than control group. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest significant association between bronchial asthma and sleep disturbances. In addition, there is significant correlation between asthma severity, impaired pulmonary function tests, level of control and sleep quality. Therefore, appropriate evaluation and treatment of sleep quality are needed for asthmatic children to improve their quality of life. Keywords: Childhood asthma, Sleep, CSHQ, Polysomnography