Attention deficit disorder, sleep disorders, and school impact in children with asthma

Abstract

Objectives: Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood. Some comorbidities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep disorders, among others, may be more prevalent in those patients, leading to great impact in school performance. Tus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of symptoms of ADHD, sleep disorders and school impact in patients with asthma. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which were included patients aged from 6 to 14 years with diagnosis of asthma, and data were collected from clinical records and also by telephone contact, in order to reach all the necessary information. Results: The sample consisted of 32 patients with asthma, in which ADHD symptoms were present in 53% of them, with an equal prevalence of inattentive and hyperactive patterns. Seventeen patients (53.1%) presented respiratory sleep disorders. Complaints about learning difficulties were positive in 50% of asthmatics, with greater difficulty in writing. Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD symptoms, respiratory sleep disorders and learning difficulties was high, indicating the importance of investigating attention and learning disabilities in children diagnosed with asthma.