Prevalence of sleep disorders in school children between 11 and 15 years

Little is known about sleep disorders in children and adolescents that migh t affect physical and emotional well-being. Depending on age and size of th e cohort group, and differences in questionnaires, prevalence varies betwee n 1-43% in international studies. We examined the prevalence of symptoms ch aracteristic of sleep disorders in school aged children with a questionnair e which allows indication of symptoms by the children themselves. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire, based on the German Dresden questionna ire, with 22 questions concerning the main symptoms of obstructive sleep ap nea syndrome (OSAS), general symptoms of para- and insomnia as well as soci odemographic data, was developed. 332 pupils (age: 11-15y, mean: 12.75y; me dian: 12y; 56% female, 44% male) in 2 high schools in Vienna were investiga ted. Results: 28% (n = 93/332) of the examined group reported snoring (the main symptom of OSAS) and/or insomnia (night waking almost every night) or paras omnia (nightmares, night terrors or sleepwalking almost every night). 15% ( n = 14/93) of this subgroup reported snoring and para- or insomnia coincide ntally. Girls were affected more frequently than boys by nocturnal awakenin g (79% vs. 56%, p < 0.001) and nightmares (64% vs. 52%, p < 0.01). The snor ing group (21% (71/332) of all examined children) was affected more frequen tly by mouth dryness (16% vs. 4%, p < 0.001), pallor (7% vs. 3%, p < 0.01), night sweats (6% vs. 1%, p < 0.05) and from the following sleep disorders: nightmares (10% vs. 2%, p < 0.01), night terrors (4% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001), sleepwalking (1.4% vs. 1%, p < 0.05) and nocturnal awakening (16% vs. 5%, p < 0.01). Discussion: Almost every fifth child reports about at least one main sympto m characteristic of OSAS. The statistically significant relation between sy mptoms of OSAS and non-organic sleep disorders shows the necessity of inter disciplinary focusing on sleep disorders. Further epidemiological studies n eed to be carried out in order to clarify the role of sleep anamnesis in th e diagnosis and management of sleep disorders during childhood.