Prevalence of Sleep Disorder in Chinese Preschoolers: A National Population-Based Study

Abstract

Study Objectives

This study provides data on the prevalence of clinical sleep disorders in Chinese preschoolers aged 3–5 years old and examined their sleep behaviours and problems with a nationally representative sample.

Methods

A national population-based cohort study was conducted with 114,311 children aged 3–5 years old from 551 cities in China. Children’s daily sleep hours and pediatric sleep disorders defined by the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) were reported by parents.

Results

The estimated sleep disorder prevalence was 76.78% (95% CI:76.54%, 77.03%). Rates of specific disorders were as follows: Bedtime resistance (97.00%, 95% CI:96.90%, 97.10%), Daytime sleepiness (77.68%,95% CI:77.43%, 77.92%), Sleep duration (70.24%,95% CI:69.97%, 70.50%), Parasomnia (58.52%,95% CI:58.23%, 58.80%), Sleep anxiety (55.53%,95% CI:55.24%, 55.81%), Sleep onset delay (51.99%,95% CI:51.70%, 52.28%) Night wakings (30.37%,95% CI:30.10%, 30.63%) and Sleep-disordered breathing (21.86%, 95% CI: 21.62%, 22.09%). The prevalence of sleep disorder, daily sleep hours and rates of specific disorder varied across children of different sex and ages.

Conclusion

A high prevalence of sleep disorder was found in Chinese preschoolers, and the specific sleep problems of Chinese preschoolers vary from other cultures. A local standard may be required when using the CSHQ to define sleep disorders in children in China. An in-depth investigation into the reasons for the high sleep disorder prevalence should be conducted and supportive intervention should be provided to preschoolers in China.