Self-reported organic and nonorganic sleep problems in schoolchildren aged 11 to 15 years in Vienna. 2002

Osman S Ipsiroglu, and Ali Fatemi, and Irene Werner, and Ekkehart Paditz, and Bernhard Schwarz
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Intensive Care, Vienna University Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. osman.ipsiroglu@akh-wien.ac.at

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of self-reported sleep problems, to examine associations among demographic characteristics, familial factors, and sleep problems, and to investigate the association between the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nonorganic sleep disorders. METHODS An anonymous questionnaire with 22 questions was designed. 332 schoolchildren (aged 11-15 years, mean age 12 years and 9 months; median, 12 years; 56% female, 44% male) from two high schools in Vienna were investigated with regard to self-reported symptoms characteristic for obstructive sleep apnea and for parasomnia/insomnia. Data were analyzed by definition of three groups (problem, occasional problem, and nonproblem sleepers, and by calculation of an insomnia/parasomnia sum score). Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests (Mann Whitney-U and Kruskal), Pearson correlation test, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Twelve percent reported at least one sleep problem every night, 76% reported occasional sleep problems, and 12% had no sleep problems. Girls were affected more frequently than boys (p <.01). Children with sleep problems suffered more often from concentration difficulties (p <.05), daytime fatigue (p <.001), and daytime naps (p <.05). Children who snored had nightmares (10% vs. 2%, p <.01), night terrors (4% vs. 1.5%, p <.001), sleepwalking (1.4% vs. 1%, p <.05), and nocturnal awakening (16% vs. 5%, p <.01) more frequently. On multiple regression analysis, 23% of the variability of a defined parasomnia/insomnia sum score had the characteristic OSA symptoms of nocturnal sweating, dryness of the mouth, snoring, hyperactivity, and daytime fatigue. CONCLUSIONS 12% of schoolchildren aged 11-15 years reported sleep problems almost every night. The children suffer from daytime fatigue, naps, and concentration difficulties. Nearly one-fourth of the symptoms of parasomnia/insomnia were associated with characteristic signs of OSA, suggesting the importance of a routine clinical investigation in children with so-called nonorganic sleep disorders.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001317 Austria A country located in Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia. The capital is Vienna.
D012650 Self Disclosure A willingness to reveal information about oneself to others. Disclosure, Self,Disclosures, Self,Self Disclosures
D012893 Sleep Wake Disorders Abnormal sleep-wake schedule or pattern associated with the CIRCADIAN RHYTHM which affect the length, timing, and/or rigidity of the sleep-wake cycle relative to the day-night cycle. Sleep Disorders,Long Sleeper Syndrome,Short Sleep Phenotype,Short Sleeper Syndrome,Sleep-Related Neurogenic Tachypnea,Subwakefullness Syndrome,Disorder, Sleep,Disorder, Sleep Wake,Disorders, Sleep,Disorders, Sleep Wake,Long Sleeper Syndromes,Neurogenic Tachypnea, Sleep-Related,Neurogenic Tachypneas, Sleep-Related,Phenotype, Short Sleep,Phenotypes, Short Sleep,Short Sleep Phenotypes,Short Sleeper Syndromes,Sleep Disorder,Sleep Phenotypes, Short,Sleep Related Neurogenic Tachypnea,Sleep Wake Disorder,Sleep-Related Neurogenic Tachypneas,Sleeper Syndrome, Long,Sleeper Syndrome, Short,Sleeper Syndromes, Long,Sleeper Syndromes, Short,Subwakefullness Syndromes,Syndrome, Long Sleeper,Syndrome, Short Sleeper,Syndrome, Subwakefullness,Syndromes, Long Sleeper,Syndromes, Short Sleeper,Syndromes, Subwakefullness,Tachypnea, Sleep-Related Neurogenic,Tachypneas, Sleep-Related Neurogenic,Wake Disorder, Sleep,Wake Disorders, Sleep

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