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

Navigating through 65 years of insights: lessons learned on functional abdominal pain in children

In 1958, Apley and Naish authored a groundbreaking paper in Archives of Disease in Childhood, elucidating the epidemiology and risk factors of recurrent abdominal pain in children-a subject that had confounded clinicians of their time. Surprisingly, even after 65 years, there are several unanswered questions regarding the etiology, pathophysiology, and management of pediatric abdominal pain. Contrary to the prevailing notion that children naturally outgrow functional abdominal pain, compelling evidence suggests it's possible these children develop a number of clinically significant psychological issues that could profoundly impact their quality of life and, consequently, future health and educational outcomes. In this light, we aimed to comprehensively review the current literature to update the knowledge of practicing clinicians on functional abdominal pain, summarizing the evidence from the last 65 years.Conclusion: The enduring unanswered questions surrounding childhood abdominal pain continue to challenge clinicians, resulting in unnecessary investigations, thereby contributing to substantial healthcare expenditures. It is also evident that children with long-standing symptoms would progress to adulthood with the potential to develop irritable bowel syndrome and many psychological disturbances. Several key interventions using pharmacological agents, such as amitriptyline, showed that some of these drugs are no more effective than the placebo in clinical trials. Several research during the recent past suggest that psychological interventions such as gut-directed hypnotherapy alleviate symptoms and ensure better prognosis in the long run. Therefore, clinicians and researchers must join hands to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning functional abdominal pain and novel therapeutic strategies to ensure the well-being of these children. What is Known: • Functional abdominal pain disorders are common among children, with a worldwide prevalence of 13.5% of children suffering from at least one of these disorders • These disorders contribute to a significant reduction in the quality of life of affected children and their families and lead to an array of psychological problems What is New: • The biological basis of functional abdominal pain is becoming more explicit, including complex interactions between altered microbiome, deranged motility, and psychological dysfunction with gut-brain interactions • Novel approaches giving minimal emphasis on pharmacological interventions and exploring psychological interventions are showing promising results.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Sleep Disturbances in Children and Adolescents With Abdominal Pain-Associated Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

The aims of the current study were to determine the frequencies of specific sleep disturbances in youth with abdominal pain-associated disorders of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBIs) and to assess relationships with psychological dysfunction. This was a retrospective evaluation of 226 consecutive patients diagnosed with an AP-DGBI. All had undergone a systematic evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms, the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, and the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Disorders of initiation and maintenance of sleep (DIMS; 40%) and disorders of excessive daytime somnolence (DOES; 14%) were each present in more than 10% of the patients. Both DIMS and DOES scores were more likely to be elevated in patients with anxiety and/or depression scores in the at-risk or elevated-risk ranges. Sleep disorders are common in youth with AP-DGBIs and are associated with anxiety and depression, even in those patients with anxiety and depression in the at-risk range.

Sleep Disorders and Chronic Pain Syndromes in the Pediatric Population

Sleep problems are widespread in children and adolescents suffering from chronic pain disorders. Sleep loss intensifies the experience of pain and is detrimental to the budding self-efficacy of a young individual with limitless horizons. Addressing sleep disorders may prevent the chronification of pain and prevent adverse health outcomes, such as functional impairment, psychiatric comorbidities and overall poor quality of life. This review will explore the cyclical nature between sleep, pain and mood, as well as the functional impact of this relationship on children and adolescents. There will be a discussion about sleep assessment and diagnostic testing, followed by a description of sleep disturbances found in specific pain conditions, ranging from headache, musculoskeletal/abdominal pain, to rheumatologic disorders. Finally, there will be a brief review of pharmacologic and behavioral interventions designed to improve sleep quality, and when possible, to alleviate pain.

Impact of Sleep Disturbance on Fatigue, Nausea, and Pain: Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms Among Youth With Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

OBJECTIVES

A high degree of sleep disturbance is reported among youth with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). Given that sleep quality impacts a range of pediatric health outcomes including somatic sensations (eg, pain) and depressive mood occurs relatively frequently among youth with DGBIs, there is a dire need to disentangle the unique contributions of sleep and depressive mood on the somatic sensations experienced by youth with DGBIs. We aimed to examine whether depressive mood mediates the relations among sleep disturbance and pain intensity, nausea, and fatigue among youth with DGBIs.

METHODS

One hundred eighteen patients aged 8-17 years ( Mage = 14.05, SD = 2.88; 70.34% female), 83.05% White/non-Hispanic recruited at a pediatric neurogastroenterology clinic completed measures of sleep disturbance, nausea, fatigue, pain intensity, and depressive mood. Three mediation models examined the effect of sleep disturbance on nausea, fatigue, and pain, with depressive mood as a mediator.

RESULTS

Participants reported moderate sleep disturbance. Depressive mood partially mediated the significant, respective relations between greater sleep disturbance and more severe nausea and fatigue. Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with higher pain intensity; however, depressive mood was not a significant mediator of this relation.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality is a major concern among youth with DGBIs. Low sleep quality may worsen nausea and fatigue via co-occurring increases in depressive mood symptoms. In contrast, sleep disturbance may directly increase pain, regardless of youths' depressive mood symptoms. Future research should explore these relations through prospective studies leveraging a combination of subjective and objective assessment approaches.

Application of non-invasive neuromodulation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders to improve their sleep quality and constipation

BACKGROUND

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders have a very wide clinical variability. A common prevalent factor is problems with stool and sleep quality. Currently, there are multiple studies related to their evaluation, but not so much related to a specific intervention. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the application of non-invasive neuromodulation as a treatment in children with neurodevelopmental disorders to improve constipation and quality of sleep.

METHODS

A total of 23 minors aged between 2 and 16 were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants were applied the microcurrent device for 60 min, 3 times per week for a total of 4 weeks. The technique was based on non-invasive neuromodulation using a surface-applied microcurrent electrostimulation device that administers an external, imperceptible, pulsed electrical stimulation. It is applied to the extremities, in a coordinated manner, using gloves and anklets connected with electrodes to a control console. Sleep latency and microarousals were evaluated through a sleep diary. To assess the evolution and type of defecation, the adapted and validated version in Spanish of the Bristol Stool Form Scale was used.

RESULTS

No adverse events occurred during the study and no incidences were registered. Clinically relevant improvements were registered in defecation frequency and type as well as in sleep related parameters. An increase in the hours of sleep was registered, from 7,35 (0,83) to 9,09 (1,35), and sleep interruptions decreased from 3,83 (1,95) to 1,17 (1,11), (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Microcurrents can be used as an effective and safe treatment to improve quality of sleep and constipation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. More studies are needed in order to obtain statistically significant results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05265702.

FIRST REGISTRATION

03/03/2022 PROTOCOL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05265702?term=baez+suarez&draw=2&rank=4.

Assessment of Sleep Quality Among Adolescents and Adults With Self-Diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background The frequency of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has increased significantly in the last ten years. Few studies were done in Saudi Arabia to assess the relationship between sleep quality and IBS. This study aims to assess the prevalence of IBS and its association with sleep quality among adolescents and adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was done on 651 participants aged 15-65 years. An online questionnaire was used to collect data, including demographics; the Rome IV criteria (R4DQ) was used in the diagnosis of IBS, the IBS symptoms severity scale (IBS-SSS) assessed IBS symptoms and severity, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. Results Based on the Rome IV criteria, 25.7% of the participants had IBS. Among them, 23.3%, 17.9%, 47.3%, and 11.5% had IBS types constipation (C), diarrhea (D), mixed bowel habits (M), and undefined subtype (U), respectively. Mild, moderate, and severe IBS were found among 43.1%, 39.5%, and 17.4% of IBS cases, respectively. About 46% had poor sleep quality, which was significantly higher among those with younger mean age, females, and students. Patients with IBS exhibited a considerably greater prevalence of poor sleep quality, and IBS-C had the highest prevalence. Conclusion A correlation was found between poor sleep quality and the positive status of IBS diagnosis among adolescents and adults. An evaluation of specific sleep disorders among IBS patients is needed.

Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (Rome IV Criteria) among a Cohort of New Zealand Children

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterised by recurring gastrointestinal symptoms that are not secondary to organic disease. FGIDs may cause reduced quality of life, with approximately 22% of children experiencing at least one FGID. This study aimed to assess FGID prevalence among children attending a tertiary care hospital in New Zealand (NZ). Methods: Children aged ≥ four years were prospectively recruited from Christchurch Hospital, NZ. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, gastrointestinal symptoms (Rome IV), and quality of life (EQ-5D-Y). An analysis was carried out using analysis of variance and the chi-squared test of independence. Results: The cohort included 156 children, with a mean age of 9.5 years (SD 3.3), 56% male. According to the Rome IV criteria, 29% experienced at least one FGID, most commonly functional constipation and functional dyspepsia. FGID symptoms were associated with Māori ethnicity (p = 0.012) and parental FGID (p < 0.001). Quality of life was lower in the FGID group in the domain ‘Feeling worried, sad, or unhappy’ (p = 0.002). Conclusion: the association of FGIDs with worse quality of life, in particular relating to worry and sadness, should highlight the importance of providing support to school age children experiencing FGID symptoms.

The complexities of the sleep-pain relationship in adolescents: A critical review

Chronic pain is a common and disabling condition in adolescents. Disturbed sleep is associated with many detrimental effects in adolescents with acute and chronic pain. While sleep and pain are known to share a reciprocal relationship, the sleep-pain relationship in adolescence warrants further contextualization within normally occurring maturation of several biopsychological processes. Since sleep and pain disorders begin to emerge in early adolescence and are often comorbid, there is a need for a comprehensive picture of their interrelation especially related to temporal relationships and mechanistic drivers. While existing reviews provide a solid foundation for the interaction between disturbed sleep and pain in youth, we will extend this review by highlighting current methodological challenges for both sleep and pain assessments, exploring the recent evidence for directionality in the sleep-pain relationship, reviewing potential mechanisms and factors underlying the relationship, and providing direction for future investigations. We will also highlight the potential role of digital technologies in advancing the understanding of the sleep and pain relationship. Ultimately, we anticipate this information will facilitate further research and inform the management of pain and poor sleep, which will ultimately improve the quality of life in adolescents and reduce the risk of pain persisting into adulthood.

U-shaped association between sleep duration with chronic constipation and diarrhea: A population-based study

To examine the association between sleep duration with chronic constipation and diarrhea, we collected demographic and questionnaire data of participants from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the period 2005 to 2010. A restricted cubic spline curve function was used to determine the association between sleep duration and chronic constipation or diarrhea. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between sleep duration groups and chronic constipation or diarrhea. 14,054 eligible participants were included in this study. Among all sleep durations, 7 hours sleep per day had the highest percentage of normal stool forms (86.3%, P < .001), while people with ≤4 hours sleep had a higher number of bowel movements per week (P < .001). RCS models demonstrated a significant nonlinear association between sleep duration and risk of chronic constipation (P < .001). The inflection points of the U-shaped association curve corresponded to 7 hours of sleep per day. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that compared to participants with 7 hours daily sleep duration, participants with ≤4 hours and ≥10 hours sleep duration had a 54% (95%CI: (1.16-2.04), P = .002) and 90% (95%CI: (1.33-2.72), P < .001) higher risk of constipation, respectively. There is a non-linear association between sleep duration and the risk of chronic constipation. Our findings indicate that both shorter and longer sleep duration are associated with an increased risk of constipation.