Parental-reported snoring from the first month of life and cognitive development at 12months of age

Sleep characteristics, early spontaneous movements, and developmental functioning in preterm infants in the early postnatal period

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the following: (i) sleep characteristics in preterm infants at 9-20 weeks of corrected age, and (ii) differences in early spontaneous movements and developmental functioning results between the groups based on some sleep characteristics.

METHODS

Seventy-four preterm infants (36 female) were included. Sleep characteristics were assessed according to the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). The infants were divided into two groups based on total sleep duration: less than 12 h (38 infants), and 12 h and more (36 infants). Video recordings were made for the General Movements Assessment (GMA) and evaluated using the Motor Optimality Score for 3- to 5-Month-Old-Infants-Revised (MOS). Cognitive, language, and motor development were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III).

RESULTS

The total sleep duration of all preterm infants (mean ± SD) was 11.8 ± 3.3 h. Infants who had absent fidgety movements slept less than 12 h, and fidgety movements differed between the groups (p = 0.012). Infants who slept 12 h or more had significantly higher MOS (p = 0.041), cognitive (p = 0.002), language (p < 0.001), and motor (p = 0.002) development results. Infants who snored had lower MOS (p = 0.001), cognitive (p = 0.004), language (p = 0.002), and motor (p = 0.001) development results. Infants with fewer than three nocturnal awakenings had significantly higher Bayley-III cognitive (p = 0.007), language (p = 0.032), and motor (p = 0.005) domain results. Prone and supine sleeping positions showed higher motor domain results than lateral positions (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep in preterm infants might be a key factor in early developmental functioning processes and nervous system integrity. Even in the first months of life, there are substantial differences in cognitive, language, and motor development in association with sleep characteristics.

Sensory processing and sleep characteristics in preterm infants in the early period of life

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the following: (i) differences in sensory processing and sleep characteristics between preterm infants born at < 32 weeks', vs. those born at ≥ 32 weeks' gestation; (ii) differences in sleep characteristics between preterm infants with typical vs. atypical sensory processing; and (iii) relationship between sensory processing and sleep characteristics in preterm infants at 3 months of age.

METHODS

A total of 189 preterm infants, 54 born at < 32 weeks' gestation (26 females; mean gestational age [standard deviation (SD)], 30.1 [1.7] weeks), and 135 born at ≥ 32 weeks' gestation (78 females; mean gestational age [SD], 34.9 [0.9] weeks) were included in the present study. Sleep characteristics were evaluated using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, and sensory processing was assessed using the Infant Sensory Profile-2.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in sensory processing (P > 0.05) or sleep characteristics (P > 0.05) between the preterm groups; however, more infants snored in the <32 weeks' gestation group (P = 0.035). Preterm infants with atypical sensory processing showed lower nighttime (P = 0.027) and total sleep durations (P = 0.032), and higher rates of nocturnal wakefulness (P = 0.038) and snoring (P = 0.001) than preterm infants with typical sensory processing. A significant relationship, therefore, was observed between sensory processing and sleep characteristics (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sensory processing patterns may play an important role in understanding sleep problems in preterm infants. The early detection of sleep problems and sensory processing difficulties are necessary for early intervention.

Consequences of paediatric sleep disordered breathing: contributions from Australian and New Zealand investigators

AIMS

To highlight the contributions of Australian and New Zealand researchers to the identification of the consequences of paediatric sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

METHODS

A search was conducted in PubMed using the terms "sleep disordered breathing" "child" and "Australia or New Zealand". All abstracts were reviewed and those which focused on the consequences of SDB have been included.

RESULTS

Australasian research into the consequences of SDB has grown exponentially over the last 35 years. SDB has significant adverse consequences for quality of life, behaviour, neurocognition and the cardiovascular system and the Australasian research studies investigating these are summarised.

CONCLUSIONS

Australian and New Zealand researchers have played a significant role in understanding the consequences of paediatric SDB and the mechanisms which underpin these. The research conducted "Downunder" has led the world in this field of research and will continue to provide evidence to improve the lives of children not only in Australasia but around the world.

Habitual Snoring at Age 3 Years: Links with Parent-Rated Remembering in Daily Life and Academic Achievement at Age 7 Years

OBJECTIVE

Habitual snoring in school-aged children is well known to link with poorer cognitive functioning and academic performance, but few studies have explored later developmental outcomes related to snoring initiated in early childhood. The aims of this study were to examine whether habitual snoring at age 3 years predicted perceived memory and academic functioning at age 7 years.

METHODS

Parents (n = 460) of children aged 7 years 2 ± 5 months completed a community follow-up survey about their perceptions of their child's sleep and health, memory in daily activities, and academic performance relevant to numeracy and literacy skills. The first survey was completed by 839 parents 4 years prior when children were aged 3 years (54.8% response rate at age 7 years). Parents rated their child's academic performance twice. First, they rated performance based on teachers' feedback relative to national standard ratings for numeracy and literacy, and second, based on their own observations.

RESULTS

Children reported to snore habitually at age 3 years received lower memory and academic composite score ratings at age 7 years. Age 3 years habitual snoring history predicted small but significant unique variation in age 7 years memory (p = 0.005), literacy (p < 0.001), and overall achievement ratings (p = 0.016) in regressions controlling for covariates, with evidence suggesting that memory may mediate links between snoring history and academic performance.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that habitual snoring in early childhood may adversely affect success in beginning schooling. More research is still needed to determine the best time for treatment so that longer-term consequences of sleep-disordered breathing may be prevented.

A Community-Based Study of Sleep and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To examine the prevalence and correlates of nighttime awakenings and to explore the association between sleep and cognitive development in a community sample of infants and toddlers.

METHODS

A total of 590 healthy infants (aged 2-11 months) and 512 toddlers (aged 12-30 months) from 8 provinces of China were assessed for their sleep and cognitive development. Data on sleep duration and nighttime awakenings were collected through the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Cognitive development was assessed by trained pediatricians using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

RESULTS

Prevalence of no nighttime awakening, and nighttime awakening(s) for 1×/night, 2×/night, and ≥ 3×/night was 6.8%, 20.2%, 33.2%, and 39.3% in infants, and was 25.8%, 34.6%, 23.8%, and 15.8% in toddlers, respectively. Nighttime awakenings were generally associated with younger age, lower maternal education level, and being currently breastfed. In addition, nighttime awakenings were associated with being boys in toddlers. After controlling for potential confounders, infants with nighttime awakenings for 2×/night were found to have significantly higher Mental Development Index (MDI) score, as compared to those without and those with more frequent nighttime awakenings. However, toddlers with nighttime awakenings for ≥ 3×/night had significantly lower MDI, as compared to those with fewer nighttime awakenings. Total sleep duration was not associated with any developmental indices in both infants and toddlers.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent nighttime awakenings are associated with poor cognitive functions in toddlers. Meanwhile, a nonlinear association between nighttime awakenings and cognitive performance was found among infants. The findings provide a developmental context for the effect of sleep on cognitive abilities in young children. Further longitudinal studies and interventional studies on the effects of parent-based sleep-focused intervention on cognitive abilities among young children are warranted.

ERS statement on obstructive sleep disordered breathing in 1- to 23-month-old children

The present statement was produced by a European Respiratory Society Task Force to summarise the evidence and current practice on the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children aged 1-23 months. A systematic literature search was completed and 159 articles were summarised to answer clinically relevant questions. SDB is suspected when symptoms or abnormalities related to upper airway obstruction are identified. Morbidity (pulmonary hypertension, growth delay, behavioural problems) and coexisting conditions (feeding difficulties, recurrent otitis media) may be present. SDB severity is measured objectively, preferably by polysomnography, or alternatively polygraphy or nocturnal oximetry. Children with apparent upper airway obstruction during wakefulness, those with abnormal sleep study in combination with SDB symptoms (e.g. snoring) and/or conditions predisposing to SDB (e.g. mandibular hypoplasia) as well as children with SDB and complex conditions (e.g. Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome) will benefit from treatment. Adenotonsillectomy and continuous positive airway pressure are the most frequently used treatment measures along with interventions targeting specific conditions (e.g. supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia or nasopharyngeal airway for mandibular hypoplasia). Hence, obstructive SDB in children aged 1-23 months is a multifactorial disorder that requires objective assessment and treatment of all underlying abnormalities that contribute to upper airway obstruction during sleep.

Infant sleep and its relation with cognition and growth: a narrative review

OBJECTIVE

Infant sleep development is a highly dynamic process occurring in parallel to and in interaction with cognitive and physical growth. This narrative review aims to summarize and discuss recent literature and provide an overview of the relation between infant sleep and cognitive development as well as physical growth.

METHODS

We conducted online literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We considered original research on humans published in the English language from January 2005 to December 2015. Search terms included "sleep" AND "infant" AND "cognition" OR "memory" OR "executive functioning", OR "growth" OR "obesity" OR "growth hormone" OR "stunting", and combinations thereof.

RESULTS

Ten studies on infant sleep and cognition were included in this review. Overall, findings indicated a positive association between sleep, memory, language, executive function, and overall cognitive development in typically developing infants and young children. An additional 20 studies support the positive role of infant sleep in physical growth, with the current literature focusing largely on weight gain and obesity rather than healthy growth. Existing evidence in both the domains is mainly based on cross-sectional designs, on association studies, and on parental reports. In contrast, there were limited studies on longitudinal sleep trajectories and intervention effects, or studies have not used more objective sleep measures such as actigraphy and polysomnography.

CONCLUSION

The reviewed studies support a critical and positive role of infant sleep in cognition and physical growth. Future studies should consider key environmental and parental confounders, include a combination of more objective (actigraphy) and subjective measures (sleep diaries and questionnaires), and move towards longitudinal trajectory designs of infant sleep and development.

Trends in Inpatient Pediatric Polysomnography for Laryngomalacia and Craniofacial Anomalies

OBJECTIVE

Increasingly, laryngomalacia and craniofacial anomalies are recognized as risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. We sought to determine whether children with these diagnoses have become more likely to undergo inpatient polysomnogram (PSG) over time and to identify evolving trends in PSG utilization.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the Kids' Inpatient Database from 2003 to 2012. Children <21 years who underwent PSG were included. Weighted comparisons of clinical/demographic characteristics of patients undergoing PSG were performed, as were associations between clinical and demographic patient characteristics and performance of inpatient PSG.

RESULTS

Between 2003 and 2012, PSG procedures decreased from 1266 to 829 (P < .001). Among children who underwent PSG, mean age decreased from 3.9 ± 5.1 to 3.1 ± 5.2 years (P = .001), and the frequency of age <1 year increased from 47.8% to 59.5% (P < .001). The frequency of laryngomalacia increased from 2.5% to 14.3% (P < .001), while the frequency of craniofacial anomalies increased from 6.2% to 19.4% (P < .001). Laryngomalacia and craniofacial anomalies were predictive of undergoing inpatient PSG in both timeframes.

CONCLUSION

Despite decreasing PSG volumes, diagnoses of laryngomalacia and craniofacial anomalies comprised increasing fractions of children undergoing inpatient PSG between 2003 and 2012. Laryngomalacia and craniofacial anomalies were also predictive of inpatient PSG use in both timeframes.

Supraglottoplasty for sleep endoscopy diagnosed sleep dependent laryngomalacia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the polysomnographic outcomes of supraglottoplasty (SGP) performed for sleep endoscopy diagnosed sleep dependent laryngomalacia as treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

Nine subjects aged 6-55 months underwent supraglottoplasty for sleep dependent laryngomalacia. All subjects underwent both pre- and post-procedural polysomnograms.

RESULTS

Supraglottoplasty for sleep dependent laryngomalacia resulted in improvement of OSAS as measured by collective improvements in 8 different primary polysomnogram parameters: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimum (nadir) and mean oxygen saturation, mean and maximum carbon dioxide, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, arousal index, as well as improvement in weight for length percentiles. Subjects had a significant 80% decrease in percentage change in AHI (p<0.005), with decrease in mean AHI from 23.4 to 4.8 following supraglottoplasty. Seven of 9 subjects demonstrated improvement in nadir saturations, 6 of 9 subjects had improvement in sleep efficiency, and 7 of 8 subjects under 4 years of age had improvement in weight for length percentile.

CONCLUSIONS

Supraglottoplasty for sleep dependent laryngomalacia is an effective treatment of OSAS, and can be readily diagnosed using sleep endoscopy. Further investigation is warranted to increase awareness and outcomes related to sleep dependent laryngomalacia.