Sleep Disturbances Among Young Patients with IBD in Israel

Abstract

Objective: This prospective survey was conducted to examine the prevalence of sleep disturbances among young patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to investigate the influence of disease characteristics and activity on sleep patterns in these patients. Methods: From January through June 2006, 41 consecutive IBD patients, from the Pediatric Gastroentnrology division at Safra Children's Hospital in Israel, were investigated using Mini- Sleep Questionnaire to detect insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness and other sleep characteristics. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded at the time of the survey. Statistical analysis included Analysis of Variance, Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance, and Pearson's Chi- Square Test. Results: Out of 41 patients (50.2% females, age 16.9± 4.0 years), 22 (54%) had sleep disturbances; Ten patients (24%) had moderate sleep disturbance score, and 12 patients (29%) had severe sleep disturbance score. The most frequent sleep disturbances were morning fatigue on awakening (75.6%), waking up during sleep (53.6%) and chronic unexplained fatigue (39%). Only one patient used sleep medication. No correlation was found between sleep disturbances and disease type, disease activity, medical treatment, anthropometric measures, age and gender of the patients. Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate sleep patterns and disturbances in IBD patients. Moderate and severe sleep disturbances are frequent among IBD patients, however, in this small study, no correlation to disease characteristics and medical therapy was demonstrated. Larger scale controlled studies, and evaluation of sleep patterns in IBD patients by polysomnography, are needed.