Assessment of Sleep Disorders in Children with Transfusion-Dependent Hemoglobinopathies

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare sleep problems between children with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies and healthy controls. Methods This study was a case-control survey of children with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies. The sample consisted of 175 children in the patient group and 175 healthy children in the control group, with an age range of 8 to 18 years. Subjects were recruited from the Children's Hospital of Mansoura University between February and July 2022. Children with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies received consultations at the Department of Pediatric Hematology. The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was used to evaluate sleep problems in both groups. Results The mean age of the patient group was 11.22±2.39 years, and 52.57% (n=92) were girls. The control group had a mean age of 11.30±2.16 years, and 50.86% (n=89) were boys. The overall score (P=0.007) and the night waking (P=0.013), sleep duration (P=0.009), and sleep-disordered breathing (P=0.029) subscores were all substantially and statistically significantly higher in children with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies than in healthy children. Conclusion As children with transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathies have more sleep problems than healthy children, more detailed studies are needed.

Keywords

• hemoglobinopathies
• sleep wake disorders
• thalassemia
• anemia, sickle cell