Skip to main content

Sleep Disorders Increase Risk for High Health Care Use in Children With Chronic Illness

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 5, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, April 5, 2024 -- Sleep disorders are associated with an increased risk for heightened health care utilization (HU) in children with chronic medical conditions, according to a study published online April 1 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Pranshu A. Adavadkar, M.D., from University of Illinois Children's Hospital in Chicago, and colleagues used Medicaid claims data to identify 16,325 children enrolled in the Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids project. Health care utilization tied to individual sleep disorders was assessed in children with chronic medical conditions.

The researchers found that children with chronic medical conditions and any sleep disorder had nearly doubled odds of being in an increased HU group (defined as at least three hospitalizations or at least four emergency department visits in 12 months) versus children without a sleep disorder (odds ratio [OR], 1.83). The risk for being in the high HU group varied across sleep disorders, with sleep-disordered breathing (OR, 1.51), insomnia (OR, 1.46), and circadian rhythm sleep disorder (OR, 2.45) all tied to increased risk. Classification in the high HU group was also seen among children of younger age and those who were White.

"These findings indicate the need for careful evaluation and management of sleep disorders in this high-risk cohort," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Staying Up Late Tied to Poorer Mental Health

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 -- Going to bed late, regardless of natural inclination, is associated with poorer mental health, according to a study published online May 19...

Ultraprocessed Food Intake Tied to Chronic Insomnia

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 -- Consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) is independently tied to chronic insomnia in the general population, according to a study recently published in...

Short Sleep Duration Throughout Childhood Tied to Psychosis Risk in Young Adulthood

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Persistent shorter sleep duration across childhood may be a risk factor for subsequent psychosis in young adulthood, according to a study published...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.