Sleep in preadolescents and adolescents with chronic disorders

Background: The aim of the study was to explore the subjective perception of their own sleep and daytime habits in (pre-)adolescents with chronic diseases. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires exploring daytime and nighttime habits, health behavior, daytime sleepiness, depression and anxiety were fulfilled by the (pre-)adolescents. Results: Hundred sixty-one patients with a chronic disease, aged 14.3±2.6 years old, participated to the study. Mean total time in bed was 8h52±1h09 (range 5h00-11h30) on school days (TIBS) and 9h59±1h28 (range 6h00-14h00) on non-school days (TIBN), with 11 (7%) adolescents reporting sleeping ≤7 hours during school days. The mean sleep time difference between TIBS and TIBN was 67±95 minutes (range: 210-330 min), with 33 patients (20%) having a sleep debt>2 h, and 38% reporting sleep initiating problems. Patients with cystic fibrosis had the lowest mean TIBS, the highest percentage (37%) of patients with sleep debt >2 h. Obese patients were the sleepiest (33%) with 8% having sleep debt. Anxiety and severe depression were observed in 22% and 20% of the patients, respectively, and correlated with fatigue at wake up and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: In these (pre-)adolescents with a chronic disease, 20% had sleep debt but sleep duration was reasonable with acceptable respect of sleep hygiene rules.