Abstracts

RATIONALE: Sleep problems in children with epilepsy have not been well characterized. Sleep problems and their impact on seizure frequency, the impact of epilepsy on sleep, the effects of anticonvulsants on sleep in children have not been well studied. Our studies aim is to quantify symptoms of sleep disorders in children with epilepsy compared to age matched controls. At the end of this activity participants should be able to discuss the incidence of sleep disorders in children with epilepsy.
METHODS: As part of larger study examining sleep disorders in children with neurological problems. 39 children with epilepsy and 39 children matched for age, sex and zip code were administered a 111 item questionnaire assessing: bedtime behavior, nighttime behavior, arousals, parasomnias, seizures, morning behavior and daytime functioning. From these questions, symptom scores were developed for sleep disordered breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, restless sleep, parasomnias and narcolepsy.
RESULTS: 39 were epilepsy patients (26 male: 13 female) with a median age of eight years. The closest obtainable matched control group consisted of 39 patients (25 male: 14 female) with a median age of eight years. The epilepsy group obtained scores of 100, 232, 101, 248, 90, and 196 for sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, restlessness, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and insomnia respectively. The control group obtained scores of 101, 71, 32, 80, and 55 for sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, restlessness, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and insomnia respectively. Use of t- statistics observing relationships showed p values for the following disorders: sleep apnea p= 0.487757, EDS p= 0.0000773, RLS p= 0.005206, narcolepsy p= 0.000103, parasomnias p= 0.072913, and insomnia p= 0.145796. . The overall added score of all sleep disorders gave the epilepsy group a total disorder score of 757 compared to the control group[ssquote]s 501(p= 0.003224).
CONCLUSIONS: Children with epilepsy have higher incidence of EDS and restlessness during sleep than normal controls. There is no difference in the incidence of parasomnias, apnea or insomnia in the two groups. The difference in the narcolepsy score is related to symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness only. Further characterization of these sleep symptoms is in progress to assess seizure type and therapy in a larger group.