Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Parental Sleep Quality
2Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
3Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, Soroka University Medical Center
4Pediatric Dermatology Service, Soroka University Medical Center
Background: Data regarding the impact of pediatric Atopic Dermatitis (AD) on parental sleep quality is scarce.
Objectives: To examine the effects of pediatric AD on the quality of parents` sleep in comparison to parents of non-atopic children.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using the validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The study population included parents of AD patients aged 2-18 years. In addition, a control group of parents to healthy children was recruited during 2020 at the same time. An association between the groups and parents` sleep quality was adjusted for suspected confounders using multivariate logistic regression.
Results: 200 parents were enrolled; 100 parents to children diagnosed with AD (42.3% in the mild AD group and 34.5% in the moderate-severe AD groups were males, mean ages 37.6 ± 9.01 and 43.3 ± 6.62 years, respectively), and 100 parents in the control group (32% males, mean age 35.4 ± 7.75 years). In the study group, 74 parents had children diagnosed with mild AD, and 26 had children diagnosed with moderate to severe AD. Parents to AD patients had significantly shorter sleep duration and longer sleep latency.
Conclusion: We found negative effects of pediatric AD on parental sleep. Identification of specific characteristics may contribute to the diagnostic and direct treatment efforts regarding parental well-being and functioning.