Sleep quality assessment using polysomnography in children on regular hemodialysis

Abstract EN

Studies examining sleep patterns in children on hemodialysis (HD) are lacking.

This cross-sectional, control-matched group study was performed to assess the sleep quality in children on HD.

The assessment was made using a subjective sleep assessment and sleep questionnaire and objective analysis was made using full night polysomnography.

A total of 25 children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD were compared with 15 age- and sex-matched controls.

The average age of the cases was 14 ± 4 years, 52 % were males and the mean body mass index was 20 ± 3.8 kg / m².

The average duration on dialysis was 2.6 ± 2 years.

Analysis of subjective data revealed markedly affected sleep quality in HD patients, as evidenced by excessive day time sleepiness (P < 0.005), night awakening (P < 0.005), difficult morning arousal (P < 0.005) and limb pains (P < 0.005).

Objective analysis showed differences in sleep architecture, less slow wave sleep in HD children, similar rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement, more sleep disordered breathing (P < 0.0001) and more periodic limb movement disorders (P < 0.0001).

Our study suggests that children on regular HD have markedly affected objective as well as subjective quality of sleep.