Diz-me como dormes: hábitos e problemas de sono em crianças portuguesas em idade pré-escolar e escolar

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Background: Given the risk of significant organic and behavioral morbidity, it is crucial to evaluate sleep problems in clinical practice.Objectives: To evaluate sleep habits and problems in pre- scholar and scholar children and compare the results with other studies.Material and Methods: Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire Portuguese version (CSHQ-PT) was applied to parents of children (4-10 years old) attending daycare centers and elementary schools in Vila Nova de Famalicao county.Results: 107 pre-scholar and 122 scholar children were included (n=229), mean age 6,3 years. 54,1% were boys. 37,3% of children shared the bedroom with another relative . Mean bedtime was 21h:41m and mean wake-up time was 7h:20m. Mean sleep duration was 9.7hours, being longer in pre-scholars (p<0.001).The prevalence of global sleep disturbances was 75,7% and the mean CSHQ-PT total score was 47,05, being higher in pre-scholars (p=0,001). Pre-scholars also scored higher on bedtime resistance (p<0,001), sleep onset delay (p=0,046) and night wakening (p<0,001). Bedtime resistance and sleep anxiety scores were higher in only children (p=0.003). The prevalence of enuresis was 7,7%, restless sleep 52,7% and bruxism 22,2%.Conclusion: In this study, children tend to fall asleep later and sleep less than in other studies. A high prevalence of sleep problems was found, specially in pre-scholar children, which claims a different approach of this subject in pediatrician´s clinical practice.