Abstract
BackgroundSleep problems are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Serum ferritin levels have been associated with the severity of symptoms and sleep disturbances among children with ADHD. This study was conducted to investigate parent-reported sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian children with ADHD and to examine the relationship between their sleep, symptom-ratings, and low serum ferritin levels.MethodsParents of 41 ADHD children, aged 6 to 12 years, filled out the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long Version (CPRS-R:L) in Arabic. Serum ferritin levels were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The parents of the 62 controls filled out the CSHQ.ResultsThe ADHD group showed significantly higher scores in CSHQ subscales and total score. Children with serum ferritin levels <30 ng/mL had more disturbed sleep. There were significant negative correlations between sleep duration subscale, total score of CSHQ, and serum ferritin levels. There were no significant differences in hyperactivity, cognitive problems/inattention, oppositional, or ADHD index subscale scores between children with serum ferritin levels <30 ng/mL and those with serum ferritin levels ≥30 ng/mL.ConclusionsSleep problems are common, and this study suggests an association between low serum ferritin levels and sleep disturbances.
Highlights
Sleep problems are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
We hypothesized that sleep problems are common among Egyptian children with ADHD, and we expect a significant association between sleep disturbances, symptoms severity, and low serum ferritin levels
The results show that the ADHD group had significantly higher scores in bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing, daytime sleepiness, and global sleep disturbance (CSHQ total score) than the control group
Summary
Sleep problems are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Serum ferritin levels have been associated with the severity of symptoms and sleep disturbances among children with ADHD. This study was conducted to investigate parent-reported sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian children with ADHD and to examine the relationship between their sleep, symptom-ratings, and low serum ferritin levels. Several studies have examined the effect of low serum ferritin levels on the severity of symptoms, few studies have examined their effect on the sleep of children with ADHD [12,13]. The aim of this study was to describe sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian children with ADHD and to examine the relationship between their sleep, symptom ratings, and low serum ferritin levels. We hypothesized that sleep problems are common among Egyptian children with ADHD, and we expect a significant association between sleep disturbances, symptoms severity, and low serum ferritin levels
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