Characteristics of sleep among Chinese preschool children born preterm

Abstract

Objective To examine sleep characteristics of preschool children who were born preterm, which could provide a reference for the future intervention in the risk population.

Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted from March 2017 to November 2018 in hospitals in cities of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, we recruited 202 preschool children aged 4–6 years, including 40 early-and moderate preterm (gestational age <34 weeks), 56 late preterm (34–36 weeks), and 106 full-term preschool children (≥37 weeks). Caregivers reported children’ s sleep time and habits using Chinese version of Children’ s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

Results Compared to the full-term group, the very-or-moderate-preterm group had shorter nighttime sleep duration (9.07±0.75 vs 9.33±0.59 h; adjusted β = –0.33), shorter total sleep duration (10.39±0.86 vs 11.05±1.32 h; adjusted β = –0.70), higher sleep duration score of CSHQ (4.60 ± 1.57 vs 3.97 ± 1.25 points; adjusted β = 0.58), and higher sleep-disordered breathing score of CHSQ (3.78±1.27 vs 3.41 ±0.71 points; adjusted β = 0.49). The late preterm group had lower parasomnias score of CSHQ (8.40±1.65 vs 8.75±1.72 points; adjusted β = –0.57), than the full-term group ( P<0.05). When gestational age was analyzed as a continuous variable, it was positively associated with the total sleep duration (adjusted β = 0.06), while was inversely associated with sleep-disordered breathing scores of CSHQ (adjusted β = –0.06).

Conclusion Very-or-moderate preterm children have shorter sleep duration and more sleep disordered breathing problems than full-term children, and have more disorders of sleeping duration and sleeping breathing than full-term children, while the late pre-term children have less sleeping disorders than full-term children. The children of lower gestational age can have shorter sleep duration and more sleep-disordered breathing which should be addressed in future intervention.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 了解早产儿学龄前的睡眠特点, 为早产儿干预措施的建立提供依据。 方法 采用多中心回顾性队列 研究的方法, 根据自愿原则, 自 2017 年 3 月至 2018 年 11 月从广州、中山、深圳3家医院病案系统筛选 202 名 4〜6 岁儿童, 其中早中期早产儿 (胎龄< 34周）40 名、晚期早产儿 (胎龄 34〜36 周）56 名、足月儿 106名 (胎龄>37周）。问卷包括儿童 基本情况调查表及儿童睡眠习惯问卷中文版。 结果 相比于足月组, 早中期早产组的夜间睡眠时间较短[(9. 07±0. 75) (9. 33±0.59) h, β = –0.33], 日均总睡眠时间较短[(10. 39±0. 86) (11. 05±1. 32) h, β =–0.70], 睡眠持续得分较高[(4. 60± 1.57) (3. 97±1.25) 分, β = 0. 58], 睡眠呼吸障碍得分较高[(3. 78±1. 27) (3. 41±0. 71) 分, β = 0. 49]; 晚期早产组的异态睡眠 得分较低 [(8.40±1.65) (8.75±1.72) 分, β = –0.57], 差异均有统计学意义( P值均<0. 05) 。胎龄对学龄前儿童的日均总 睡眠时间有正向预测作用( β = 0. 06), 胎龄越大的学龄前儿童日均总睡眠时间越长; 胎龄对睡眠呼吸障碍得分有负向预测 作用( β = –0.06), 胎龄越大的学龄前儿童睡眠呼吸障碍问题越少。 结论 早中期早产儿睡眠问题较多, 主要为睡眠持续 和睡眠呼吸障碍问题。