Sleep patterns of children with Cri du Chat syndrome before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study

Background

Sleep patterns in children with Cri du Chat syndrome (CDC) remain understudied. The pandemic and isolation disrupted routines, potentially affecting their sleep.

Methods

We compared the sleep characteristics of 53 children with CDC before and during the COVID-19-related social isolation periods with that of 106 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 160 without either condition (comparison group), using the adapted Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). The variables wake after sleep onset (WASO), awakenings, environment, strategies, and sleep latency were dichotomized based on relevant outcomes. Binomial logistic models were used for binomial outcomes and the lowest Akaike Information Criteria determined total sleep time distribution. Generalized estimating equations examined pandemic effects and intergroup differences. Multinomial regressions assessed pandemic and disorder impact on child and caregiver sleep quality.

Results

Children with CDC had higher WASO, awakenings, and poorer sleep compared with the ASD and comparison groups in the pre-pandemic assessment

Discussion

These findings emphasize the importance of addressing sleep impairment in children with CDC to improve their overall well-being, both during exceptional circumstances like the pandemic and in their daily routines. The study provides valuable insights into sleep patterns and highlights the impact of the pandemic on sleep quality in different neurodevelopmental populations.