Abstracts

RATIONALE: Sleep-related breathing disorders can result in significant sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness, which can affect physical and psychological well-being. Epilepsy patients experience a high prevalence rate of sleep disorder symptoms. Limited studies have been done on children with epilepsy. This study examined the frequency and types of sleep disordered complaints in a sample of children with and without epilepsy. We hypothesized that both groups will report similar symptoms with the exception of items relating to trouble breathing or stopping of breathing for the epilepsy sample.
METHODS: The caregivers of 14 children with a diagnosis of epilepsy (10 boys, 4 girls; mean age=10.9[plusminus]2.4) and 14 age and sex-matched children undergoing sleep studies for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) (10 boys, 4 girls; mean age=10.3[plusminus]2.2), completed a pediatric sleep questionnaire regarding their child[scquote]s behavior during sleep and wakefulness. The questionnaire administered to the Neurology Clinic contained 70 close-ended questions, with yes, no, or don[scquote]t know responses. It assessed a wide range of sleep problems, including SDB, daytime sleepiness, and sleep hygiene. The subscale for snoring and the SDB scale have been validated (Chervin, 2000). The caregivers of the non-epileptic children suspected of having SDB (respiratory disturbance index [gt] 5) filled out a standard patient information questionnaire at an accredited sleep laboratory. From each questionnaire, five selected items sharing common questions regarding specific sleep disturbances were compared.
RESULTS: Among the five items compared, no differences were found in the frequency of snoring ([chi]²[sub]df[/sub]= 2,27 p[gt].125) and daytime sleepiness complaints ([chi]²[sub]df[/sub]= 2,27 p[gt].686). The differences found in restless sleep ([chi]²[sub]df[/sub]= 2,27 p[lt].036) may be explained by the larger number of don[scquote]t know responses given by the caregivers on this item. Significant differences with trouble breathing ([chi]²[sub]df[/sub]= 2,27 p[lt].000) and stopping of breathing ([chi]²[sub]df[/sub]= 2,27 p[lt].015) were also found.
CONCLUSIONS: One or more SDB complaints were endorsed by all of the epileptic patients. Of the five items examined, there were no significant differences between children with SDB and epileptic patients in the frequency of complaints of snoring and daytime sleepiness. Significant differences were found on the items assessing trouble with breathing and cessation of breathing. The children with epilepsy infrequently complained of experiencing these symptoms. Findings regarding the similarity in daytime sleepiness between these two groups suggest the importance of future study of this symptom[scquote]s contribution to attentional and cognitive problems. This preliminary data supports the need for further studies of sleep in children with epilepsy.
Support: University of Florida, Division of Sponsored Research.