The importance of social zeitgeber in paediatric type 1 narcolepsy: What we can learn from the COVID‐19 restrictions adopted in Italy?

Abstract

The lockdown due to the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID‐19) has led to unparalleled changes in several aspects of human behaviour. During the lockdown, the general population delayed sleep timing and spent more time in bed; however, little is known on the effects of COVID‐19 restriction on children and adolescents suffering type 1 narcolepsy. In the last months of 2019, we performed follow‐up actigraphy in 18 type 1 narcolepsy children and adolescents under stable pharmacological treatment with sodium oxybate. We contacted these patients for a follow‐up actigraphy during the first Italian lockdown. Actigraphs and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for children and adolescents (ESS‐CHAD) have been sent to participants’ homes. Differences in motor activity were analysed through functional linear modelling. During lockdown, type 1 narcolepsy children and adolescents went to bed and woke up later, slept more during the daytime and napped more frequently. No difference emerged in time in bed, estimated total sleep time and nocturnal sleep quality. Similarly, no difference emerged in ESS‐CHAD and body mass index. The time‐series analysis of motor activity documented reduced activity during the early morning and in the evening during the lockdown period compared with pre‐lockdown. Our study objectively showed that type 1 narcolepsy children and adolescents delayed the sleep phase and slept more during the daytime during the lockdown. The analysis of type 1 narcolepsy children and adolescents’ behaviour during the lockdown has provided new information that could pave the way to a personalized school programme.