Objective Sleep Characteristics and Factors Associated With Sleep Duration and Waking During Pediatric Hospitalization

Abstract

This cross-sectional study explores the quantity and patterns of sleep in hospitalized children to determine factors associated with sleep quantity and nighttime waking.

Sleep and Circadian Disruptors: Unhealthy Noise and Light Levels for Hospitalized Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Patients

“…8 Within inpatient rooms of children with cancer, noise and light disruptions have been tracked only for brief periods (e.g., three days) 11 and primarily focused on nighttime light levels. [11][12][13] This study expands findings by characterizing noise and light patterns across full 24-hour periods over several months in an inpatient pediatric SCT room.…”

“…Nighttime noise levels always exceeded WHO recommendations for sleep, 15 with patients exposed to multiple noise spikes associated with night wakings. 12,14,19 While light levels were frequently dim enough to be conducive to sleep at night, patients were rarely exposed to light bright enough to preserve a healthy circadian rhythm during the day. Furthermore, the afternoon timing of the brightest daytime light exposure was also not ideal for maintaining circadian entrainment.…”

“…5 Humans can become accustomed to a persistently noisy environment so long as it is constant -variability may drive night wakings. 12,14,19 By two different metrics, children in our study were exposed to exceedingly disruptive noise: 3.4 noise spikes >80 dB (roughly equivalent to a gas-powered lawnmower 20 ) and 5.6 SLCs >17.5 dB per night. It may be important to focus intervention efforts on minimizing brief, but problematic, bursts of sound.…”

“…For the nighttime hours, we also measured the frequency of noise spikes >80 dB, sound level changes (SLCs, the difference between two consecutive sound measurements) >17.5 dB, and light spikes >150 lux -all of which are associated with night wakings. 12,14,19 Data were analyzed using RStudio.…”

Pediatric pulmonary year in review 2021: Sleep medicine

“…8 In considering sleep during hospitalizations, Stremler et al 9 identified that potentially modifiable factors, namely light and noise, were the most common sleep disruptors among pediatric patients hospitalized. 9 Tsou et al 10 p < 0.0001). 10 This association was previously identified among adult patients.…”