Abstract
Sleep disturbances represent an understudied yet common source of distress among pediatric cancer patients and survivors, with deleterious effects on quality of life. Sleep issues stem from multiple risk factors, yet individual contributors are difficult to isolate, consequently impeding the identification of targets for intervention. In many pediatric cancer patients, disrupted sleep and its negative impact on quality of life continue into adulthood and may affect various functional domains. This literature review highlights the types and prevalence of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients during active treatment and through survivorship. Potential etiological and risk factors for disturbed sleep are summarized, including the effects of cancer and its treatment, psychosocial and family factors, as well as individual-patient aspects, such as genetics, mood and coping skills. While existing assessment and management strategies are reviewed, the literature is incomplete, and significant gaps emerge in our understanding of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients and survivors. The review concludes with recommendations of areas where further research is needed. The aims of this review include increasing clinicians’ awareness of sleep disturbances as a significant source of poor quality of life in pediatric cancer patients and survivors and directing researchers to gaps in our understanding of sleep disturbances in pediatric cancer patients and survivors.
Highlights
Cancer in the pediatric and adolescent population (1–19 years old) remains one of the three leading causes of death in the United States [1]
Among quality-of-life manifestations, children, adolescents, and young adults report sleep disturbances during and after treatment [4,5,6,7]. Sleep issues and their sequelae appear to be common in pediatric cancer patients and survivors, with almost half experiencing some form of sleep disturbance [8,9]
In order to describe sleep issues during treatment, as well as survivorship, this review considered studies that included children and adolescents who had been diagnosed between the ages of 0 to 18 years old
Summary
Cancer in the pediatric and adolescent population (1–19 years old) remains one of the three leading causes of death in the United States [1]. The harmful effects of non-restorative sleep on the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients remain an understudied aspect of cancer care and survivorship [12]. The goal of this integrated review was to synthesize the literature on sleep disturbances in patients and survivors of childhood cancer, summarize known and suspected etiologies, highlight potentially fruitful intervention paradigms, and identify areas where further research is needed. The harmful effects of non-restorative sleep on the quality of life of pediatric cancer 2p.aMtieentthsordeomloaginyan understudied aspect of cancer care and survivorship [12]. Studies that described the tools and surveys used to diagnose patients with sleep disorders were included if they involved pediatric and adolescent patients, regardless of cancer status
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