The quality of sleep in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, their mothers and healthy children

Abstract

Aim Sleep disordered breathing is a common problem in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We aimed to determine the sleep quality in DMD and their mothers, comparing to healthy children with DMD boys. Material and method This study was performed at the Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Child Neurology Department. Thirteen boys with DMD and 20 healthy controls, aged 7-15 years, were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 9,71 years for DMD and was 9.25 for the healthy children. They were evaluated with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was made using Mann-Whitney U test and unpaired test. Results The average total of the PSQI score of healthy children were 2 and the average PSQI score was 3,61 in DMD boys. There was difference between DMD boys and healthy children in total PSQI score ( p=0.014) and in 6th component of PSQI evaluated for general sleep quality last week (p=0,02). T he score above the 5 points is determined as a poor sleep quality. P oor sleep quality was identified in 10 DMD mothers and 4 DMD boys using PSQI score. The average of total PSQI score was 3,61 (%30,76) in DMD boys and 5,76 (%76,92) in their mothers. Conclusion Comparing with healthy children, poor sleep quality was observed in DMD children. This is considered to be associated with physical impairment, pain, week muscles and respiratory failure. Also, mothers of DMD children have poor sleep quality because of they should care of their children. It was considered that DMD boys should encourage to be more active to reduce negative effects of poor sleep quality on DMD.