Sleep disturbances in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders: demographic and clinical characteristics.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES\nResearch indicates a deleterious effect of sleep disturbances on pain and illness-related functioning across pediatric populations. Sleep problems in youth with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are understudied, despite studies in adult FGIDs indicating sleep disruptions increase pain and symptom severity. This study sought to better characterize sleep problems in FGID school-age children and to assess relationships with demographic characteristics and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSixty-seven children with FGIDs (pediatric Rome IV criteria) and 59 parents completed questionnaires assessing sleep problems, and children completed a 2-week pain/stooling diary. Sleep problems in this sample were compared to published normative samples, and children above and below clinical cutoff were compared on demographics and FGID symptoms.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOf the sample, 61% were above clinical cutoff for sleep disturbances, with significantly greater bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness than the comparison group. Children above clinical cutoff reported greater mean abdominal pain severity and pain interference. Relative to White participants, Black/African American participants were more likely to be above clinical cutoff and indicated more frequent night wakening and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, but lower maximum and overall mean abdominal pain severity.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nSleep problems in children with FGIDs are common and related to greater day-to-day abdominal pain severity and pain interference. Results suggest sleep-pain relationships may differ across racial/ethnic groups. Assessing sleep in children with FGIDs is important, and further research is needed to assess underlying mechanisms and evaluate sleep as a potential treatment target in this population.