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Observational Study
. 2020 Jul 15;16(7):1099-1105.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.8436.

Sleep disturbance in pediatric intracranial hypertension

Alexandra B Kornbluh  1 , Katherine Thompson  2 , Gada Mcmahen  1 , David L Rogers  3 , Catherine O Jordan  3 , Shawn C Aylward  1 , Lenora M Lehwald  4
Affiliations
Observational Study

Sleep disturbance in pediatric intracranial hypertension

Alexandra B Kornbluh et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Study objectives: There is a well-established association between headache disorders and sleep disturbances in children, but it is unknown whether sleep disturbance plays a role in pediatric intracranial hypertension. The objective of this study was to examine sleep issues related to pediatric intracranial hypertension.

Methods: Patients with intracranial hypertension in the Pediatric Intracranial Hypertension Clinic were recruited between July 2017 and September 2018. Demographic data were collected from the electronic medical record in addition to patient and parent completed questionnaires. Information on sleep behaviors was gathered using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and control data were obtained from patient siblings. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t tests or two-sample t tests, as appropriate.

Results: Sixty-two pairs of patients and matched sibling controls were compared. We found a statistically significant difference in total sleep disturbance score (control mean, 44.3; patient mean, 48.1; n = 33 pairs, t = -2.2, P = .035), as well as subscale scores of sleep onset delay (control mean, 1.4; patient mean, 1.7; n = 52 pairs, t = -2.53, P = .014), parasomnias (control mean, 8.5; patient mean, 9.5; n = 42 pairs, t = -2.59, P = .013), and sleep-disordered breathing (control mean, 3.1; patient mean, 3.4; n = 44 pairs, t = -2.61, P = .013). No difference was found in bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, night awakenings, and daytime sleepiness subscales. Furthermore, no difference was found in total sleep disturbance score between patient subsets, including primary vs secondary intracranial hypertension, body mass index, pubertal status, presence of headaches, or intracranial hypertension treatment.

Conclusions: This observational study suggests that pediatric intracranial hypertension is associated with a modest increase in sleep disturbances.

Keywords: intracranial hypertension; pediatric neurology; pseudotumor cerebri; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have seen and approved the final version of this manuscript. Work for this study was performed at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow diagram of patients.
Of the total 246 total surveys returned, ultimately 99 unique patient visits and 62 sibling controls were assessed.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) scores in patients vs sibling controls.
There was a statistically significant difference in the total sleep disturbance score as well as subscale scores of sleep-onset delay, parasomnias, and sleep-disordered breathing in patients compared with sibling controls.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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