Losing sleep influences dietary intake in children: a longitudinal compositional analysis of a randomised crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Although inadequate sleep increases the risk of obesity in children, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to assess how sleep loss influenced dietary intake in children while accounting for corresponding changes in sedentary time and physical activity; and to investigate how changes in time use related to dietary intake. METHODS: A randomized crossover trial in 105 healthy children (8-12 years) with normal sleep (~ 8-11 h/night) compared sleep extension (asked to turn lights off one hour earlier than usual for one week) and sleep restriction (turn lights off one hour later) conditions, separated by a washout week. 24-h time-use behaviors (sleep, wake after sleep onset, physical activity, sedentary time) were assessed using waist-worn actigraphy and dietary intake using two multiple-pass diet recalls during each intervention week. Longitudinal compositional analysis was undertaken with mixed effects regression models using isometric log ratios of time use variables as exposures and dietary variables as outcomes, and participant as a random effect. RESULTS: Eighty three children (10.2 years, 53% female, 62% healthy weight) had 47.9 (SD 30.1) minutes less sleep during the restriction week but were also awake for 8.5 (21.4) minutes less at night. They spent this extra time awake in the day being more sedentary (+ 31 min) and more active (+ 21 min light physical activity, + 4 min MVPA). After adjusting for all changes in 24-h time use, losing 48 min of sleep was associated with consuming significantly more energy (262 kJ, 95% CI:55,470), all of which was from non-core foods (314 kJ; 43, 638). Increases in sedentary time were related to increased energy intake from non-core foods (177 kJ; 25, 329) whereas increases in MVPA were associated with higher intake from core foods (72 kJ; 7,136). Changes in diet were greater in female participants. CONCLUSION: Loss of sleep was associated with increased energy intake, especially of non-core foods, independent of changes in sedentary time and physical activity. Interventions focusing on improving sleep may be beneficial for improving dietary intake and weight status in children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZCTR ACTRN12618001671257, Registered 10th Oct 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367587&isReview=true.

Time to first dose of antibiotics in febrile neonates.

AIM: To assess whether febrile neonates from the community received their first dose of intravenous antibiotics within 1 h from time of arrival, as per the regional paediatric sepsis pathway, at a tertiary combined adult/child emergency department in New Zealand. METHOD: Retrospective data were collected from January 2018 to December 2019 with 28 patients included. RESULTS: Mean time to first antibiotic dose for all neonates and those with serious bacterial infection was 3 h 20 min and 2 h 53 min respectively. No case used the paediatric sepsis pathway. A pathogen was identified in 19/28 (67%) neonates and 16/28 (57%) had clinical signs of shock. CONCLUSION: This study adds to Australasian data on community neonatal sepsis. Antibiotic administration was delayed for neonates with serious bacterial infection, clinical signs of shock and raised lactate. The reasons for delay are examined, with a number of potential areas for improvement identified.

Infant Sleep Hazards and the Risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of infant sofa-sleeping, recent use by caregivers of alcohol, cannabis, and/or other drugs, and bed type and pillows, on the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in New Zealand. STUDY DESIGN: A nationwide prospective case-control study was implemented between March 2012 and February 2015. Data were collected during interviews with parents/caregivers. "Hazards" were defined as infant exposure to 1 or more of sofa-sleeping and recent use by caregivers of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. The interaction of hazards with tobacco smoking in pregnancy and bed sharing, including for very young infants, and the difference in risk for Maori and non-Maori infants, also were assessed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 132 cases and 258 controls. SUDI risk increased with infant sofa-sleeping (imputed aOR [IaOR] 24.22, 95% CI 1.65-356.40) and with hazards (IaOR 3.35, 95% CI 1.40-8.01). The SUDI risk from the combination of tobacco smoking in pregnancy and bed sharing (IaOR 29.0, 95% CI 10.10-83.33) increased with the addition of 1 or more hazards (IaOR 148.24, 95% CI 15.72-1398), and infants younger than 3 months appeared to be at greater risk (IaOR 450.61, 95% CI 26.84-7593.14). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoking in pregnancy and bed sharing remain the greatest SUDI risks for infants and risk increases further in the presence of sofa-sleeping or recent caregiver use of alcohol and/or cannabis and other drugs. Continued implementation of effective, appropriate programs for smoking cessation, safe sleep, and supplying safe sleep beds is required to reduce New Zealand SUDI rates and SUDI disparity among Maori.

Training and confidence in undertaking child protection work as reported by New Zealand paediatricians.

AIM: In New Zealand and rural Australia, general paediatricians undertake the majority of child protection (CP) medical assessments. This study aimed to document what New Zealand paediatricians think about their role in CP and their perceived preparedness for this work. METHODS: A 43-item SurveyMonkey questionnaire was sent to paediatricians working in CP. Questions explored demographic detail, CP work undertaken clinically and with regard to teaching and paediatrician confidence and experience in areas of CP. A separate questionnaire documented organisational CP work. RESULTS: A total of 79 paediatricians, 45 (57%) female, responded from 15 of 20 District Health Boards. For 73%, CP was less than 10% of their weekly workload, with 42% indicating they had been the lead paediatrician for fewer than five cases in the preceding 12 months. Paediatricians were more confident managing physical abuse than sexual abuse cases with regard to initial assessments, report writing and appearances in court. Just over a third reported at least once feeling personally threatened or unsafe while involved in a CP case. Only 29% were satisfied with their level of training, and 73% agreed they would like more CP training. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatricians undertake a number of roles in CP but do not feel confident in all these roles. More attention needs to be given to training in CP in general paediatric physician training in New Zealand.

The effect of mild sleep deprivation on diet and eating behaviour in children: protocol for the Daily Rest, Eating, and Activity Monitoring (DREAM) randomized cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND: Although insufficient sleep has emerged as a strong, independent risk factor for obesity in children, the mechanisms by which insufficient sleep leads to weight gain are uncertain. Observational research suggests that being tired influences what children eat more than how active they are, but only experimental research can determine causality. Few experimental studies have been undertaken to determine how reductions in sleep duration might affect indices of energy balance in children including food choice, appetite regulation, and sedentary time. The primary aim of this study is to objectively determine whether mild sleep deprivation increases energy intake in the absence of hunger. METHODS: The Daily, Rest, Eating, and Activity Monitoring (DREAM) study is a randomized controlled trial investigating how mild sleep deprivation influences eating behaviour and activity patterns in children using a counterbalanced, cross-over design. One hundred and ten children aged 8-12 years, with normal reported sleep duration of 8-11 h per night will undergo 2 weeks of sleep manipulation; seven nights of sleep restriction by going to bed 1 hr later than usual, and seven nights of sleep extension going to bed 1 hr earlier than usual, separated by a washout week. During each experimental week, 24-h movement behaviours (sleep, physical activity, sedentary behaviour) will be measured via actigraphy; dietary intake and context of eating by multiple 24-h recalls and wearable camera images; and eating behaviours via objective and subjective methods. At the end of each experimental week a feeding experiment will determine energy intake from eating in the absence of hunger. Differences between sleep conditions will be determined to estimate the effects of reducing sleep duration by 1-2 h per night. DISCUSSION: Determining how insufficient sleep predisposes children to weight gain should provide much-needed information for improving interventions for the effective prevention of obesity, thereby decreasing long-term morbidity and healthcare burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001671257 . Registered 10 October 2018.

Comparison of 12-hour and 24-hour oximetry recordings in preterm infants.

AIM: To compare the overnight 12-hour oximetry component of 24-hour oximetry recordings with the complete 24-h recording in terms of cardiorespiratory status data in preterm infants. METHODS: Preterm infants from the Wellington neonatal intensive care unit underwent a 24-h pulse oximetry recording immediately prior to discharge home. Each recording was edited to resemble a 12-h overnight recording and compared to the full 24-h recording. Differences in a range of cardiorespiratory variables were assessed as to whether they were statistically significant and, if so, likely to be clinically significant. RESULTS: The nadirs for heart rate and SpO2 (both P < 0.001), the time spent <80% SpO2 (P = 0.017) and highest heart rate (P < 0.001) were significantly different between the two recordings. Only the heart rate nadir differed by more than 5%, suggesting that this may be of clinical significance (median (interquartile range) 54 (28-69) for 24-h recording vs. 78 (54-96) for 12-h recording). CONCLUSION: The 24-h oximetry reports were clinically similar to 12-h recordings for the majority of variables, and therefore, we suggest that 12-h oximetry studies are sufficient for determining cardiorespiratory status in infants.

24-hour oxygen saturation recordings in preterm infants: editing artefact.

AIM: To create editing guidelines for artefact removal in preterm infant pulse oximetry recordings. METHODS: 38 preterm infants ready for discharge home from the neonatal intensive care unit underwent 24-hour pulse oximetry recording using the Masimo® Rad-8 device. An expert panel determined editing rules based on clinical protocols. For each recording, three reports were generated, 'raw' no editing, 'auto' using the software editing feature and 'manual' reviewed and edited according to the rules. Primary outcome measures were desaturation indices including desaturation index 3% and 4%. Secondary measures included heart rate, mean oxygen saturation and time below 90%. RESULTS: While all oximetry outcomes differed significantly between editing modes, the majority were not considered likely to influence clinical management. Use of the auto editing compared to no editing did alter by >5%: Time spent <90% oxygen saturation and Desaturation index 4% >10 seconds. The use of manual editing removed extremely low pulse values that were considered unphysiological in this group of otherwise healthy infants. CONCLUSION: We recommend that oximetry recordings to determine cardiorespiratory stability in newborn infants ready for discharge from the neonatal unit have software editing features applied. This will remove artefact without consuming time in a busy unit.

Preterm infants at discharge: nap polysomnography versus 24-hour oximetry.

AIM: This study aimed to determine whether measures of intermittent hypoxia derived from 24-hour oximetry correlate with measures of apnoea derived from modified nap polysomnography undertaken for preterm infants before discharge. METHODS: Infants born ≤32 weeks of gestation were recruited from the neonatal intensive care unit and had a modified polysomnography to assess their respiratory stability once they were ≥35 weeks of postmenstrual age. Infants were defined as unstable if they had more than 10 obstructive events per hour or any apnoea of >20 seconds in length. Infants also had a 24-hour oximetry performed during this period. The results of the 24-oximetry desaturation index (DSI) were compared to nap polysomnography results for central and obstructive apnoea indices and correlations tested. RESULTS: Twenty-four infants completed the study. There were 15 (63%) infants defined as unstable by the modified polysomnography. The 3% DSI and 4% DSI from the 24-hour oximetry were significantly higher in the unstable infants, and values for all infants correlated with the obstructive index and the central apnoea index from the modified polysomnography. CONCLUSION: The 3% DSI and 4% DSI values from a 24-hour oximetry study may provide noninvasive measures of respiratory stability in preterm infants ready for discharge.

Environmental and behavioural factors associated with school children's sleep in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

AIM: To collect objective and subjective sleep data on 6- to 8-year-old children across the week and to identify factors within the family environment associated with sleep differences. METHODS: Data were collected (n = 52) using actigraphy and diaries for 7 consecutive days and nights and a questionnaire incorporating the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was completed by parents. RESULTS: Children's actigraphic sleep periods averaged 10 h on school nights and 9.5 h on non-school nights and parents over-estimated children's sleep compared with actigraphy. One third (37%) of children had potential sleep problems. Children who shared a bedroom (31%) had shorter sleep onset latencies and those who consumed caffeinated drinks (33%) went to sleep and awoke later. Increased screen time was associated with later bedtimes on school nights and children with screens in bedrooms (12%) went to bed later and slept less on school nights, and had higher Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores. Children living with a shift-working adult (27%) slept longer on non-school nights and had shorter sleep onset latencies on school nights. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider children's sleep within the wider family context and to be aware that parents may over-estimate their children's sleep. Simple strategies to promote sleep health in clinical settings or education programmes include regular weekend bedtimes that align with those on school nights, removing technology from bedrooms and minimising caffeine consumption. An awareness of potential sleep differences associated with shift-working adults may ensure children are supported to have consistent sleep routines that promote adequate sleep.

Relationship between parent knowledge of child sleep, and child sleep practices and problems: A pilot study in a children's hospital cohort.

AIM: To describe parent reports of sleep practices, and examine associations with parent knowledge of child sleep, and whether children's sleep practices differ between parents who underestimated, overestimated or accurately estimated children's sleep needs. METHODS: Parents of children aged 2-12 years (n = 115) attending hospital inpatient or day wards were approached and asked to report child sleep routines, sleep problems, parent education, household income and parent knowledge of child sleep via questionnaire. RESULTS: Younger age was associated with earlier bedtimes and wake times, shorter sleep latencies, longer sleep durations and greater sleep problems (P < 0.05). Parents from higher income homes reported earlier bedtimes and wake times, shorter sleep latencies and fewer sleep problems (P < 0.05). Parents with higher education reported shorter sleep latencies (P < 0.05). Parents with greater knowledge about child sleep reported earlier weekday and weekend bedtimes (r s ≥ 0.26) and wake times (r s ≥ 0.21) and greater consistency between their child's weekend and weekday sleep routines (P < 0.05). In comparison with parents who correctly estimated their child's sleep needs: parents who underestimated reported later weekday bedtimes (on average, 46 min), and longer sleep latencies (17 min); parents who overestimated reported longer sleep latencies (22 min). These findings remained significant when controlling for child age (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Parents with increased sleep knowledge, higher incomes and higher levels of education were more likely to report earlier bedtimes, wake times and more consistent sleep routines for their children.

Oximetry for preterm infants at neonatal discharge: What is current practice in New Zealand and Australia?

AIM: The aim of the study was to survey level 2 and 3 neonatal units in Australasia to determine the prevalence of oximetry studies at discharge for preterm infants, how these oximetry studies are performed, and which measures are included in an oximetry report. METHODS: A 10-question online survey was created using Survey Monkey regarding use of predischarge oximetry and e-mailed to 46 neonatal units (all level 2 and three units in NZ and all level 3 units in Australia). RESULTS: The response rate was 59% (27/46) with a NZ response rate of 78% (18/23). There was variation in the groups of infants receiving predischarge oximetry studies, with one fifth of responding neonatal units never performing oximetry at discharge. Of the units using predischarge oximetry screening, infants being discharged home on supplemental oxygen were the only group for which all units perform predischarge oximetry. Masimo (Masimo, Irvine, California, USA) is the most common oximeter brand and profox Associates, Inc. (PROFOX Associates, Inc., Escondido, CA 92025, USA) the most common analysis software used. Measures included in oximetry reports vary between units, with profox Associates, Inc.'s default event definition of 'a drop in saturation by four or more' being the most commonly reported desaturation definition. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a need for guidelines to standardise preterm infant oximetry monitoring at neonatal discharge. Further research is required to determine the utility of predischarge oximetry and to establish which infants should be screened.

Sudden unexpected death in infancy: biological mechanisms.

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) covers both explained and unexplained deaths. Unexplained cases or SIDS are likely to have multiple neural mechanisms contributing to the final event. The evidence ranges from subtle physiological signs related to autonomic control, to findings at autopsy of altered neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonergic system, a network that has an extensive homeostatic role in cardio-respiratory and thermoregulatory control. Processes may be altered by the vulnerability of the infant due to age, poor motor ability, or a genetic predisposition. The fatal event may occur in response to an environmental stress. A single final physiological route to death seems unlikely. An understanding of the reasons for explained SUDI also reminds us that a thorough investigation is required after each death occurs.

Nocturnal sleep measured by actigraphy in children with Prader-Willi syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nocturnal sleep duration by actigraphy in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). STUDY DESIGN: Baseline measurements including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were collected on 8 children with PWS (6 boys) with each subject age- and sex-matched to 2 control children. From 7 consecutive nights of actigraphy data, values for total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep latency (SL), number of awakenings after sleep onset, and duration of awakenings after sleep onset (WASO) were extracted. Parents also completed a sleep diary and questionnaire during this period. RESULTS: Subjects with PWS ranged from 4.2 to 15.4 years, and they had a lower height z score and higher BMI z score compared with controls. The PWS group had a shorter SL (P = .0007), longer WASO (P = .009), and higher daytime sleepiness score. TST, sleep efficiency, and number of awakenings after sleep onset were not significantly different between the groups, and subjects with PWS did not wake earlier than controls. There was no correlation between WASO and BMI or between WASO and sleepiness score. CONCLUSION: Children with PWS appear to have a shorter SL but more time awake in the night than normal children and have similar TST and morning wake time compared with controls.

Current definitions for neonatal apnoea: are they evidence based?

Apnoea is defined as cessation of breathing with implicit pathophysiology. This review considers definitions of neonatal apnoea currently available and explores the evidence to support their use. For preterm and term infants, apnoea definitions appear arbitrary, are not supported by guidelines and vary from study to study. Although most alarms on infant breathing monitors are set to alert after a respiratory pause >20s duration is detected, this time period is the equivalent of 17 missed breaths in a preterm infant. Apnoea is likely to be better defined by associated consequence than by pause duration alone in this age group; however, the degree of change in heart rate or oxygen saturation that defines a respiratory pause as pathological is yet to be defined. Further research is required to determine the characteristics that differentiate respiratory events of clinical consequence from normal respiratory variability in term and preterm infants.

Sleep position does not appear to influence the risk of extreme cardiorespiratory events in vulnerable infants.

Implications for practice and research: Extreme cardiorespiratory events can be documented during sleep and are more common in immature preterm infants. The supine sleep position does not appear to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by decreasing the risk of extreme cardiorespiratory events in vulnerable infants. Reasons for the physiological advantage of the supine sleep position remain speculative and require ongoing study despite decreases in SIDS death rates in recent years.

Children talking about their sleep: a cross-sectional survey of differences by ethnicity and socioeconomic status in Aotearoa New Zealand primary schools.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study examined differences by ethnicity and socioeconomic status in attitudes to sleep and bedtime routine, as self-reported by children aged 7-9 years. METHODS: Four groups of parent-child dyads were recruited: Maori participants from low- (n = 18) and high- (n = 17) decile schools and New Zealand European participants from low- (n = 18) and high- (n = 17) decile schools. Children completed a questionnaire about their sleep, a self-report of anxiety symptoms, and a semistructured interview. RESULTS: Most (77%) children reported liking to go to sleep (Maori, 88% vs New Zealand European, 65%; P = .053) and 28% reported trouble sleeping. Maori children were less likely to report fear of the dark and fighting about going to bed. Liking going to sleep was associated with less fear of the dark and of sleeping alone. Children from low-decile schools more often reported waking with pain and feeling sleepy (P = .022) and taking naps (P = .018) during the day. They also had more symptoms of anxiety. New Zealand European children more frequently reported using "screen time" (P = .02) or "reading a book" (P = .05). Children attending high-decile schools were more likely to read at bedtime (P = .01), whereas children attending low-decile schools were more likely to have "play time" (P = .02). Children were able to articulate what was a good night and bad night sleep. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that more adverse differences in sleep habits and attitudes in children are most likely to be related to socioeconomic status than to ethnicity. CITATION: Elder D, Miller J, Douglas B, Stanley J, McDowall P, Campbell A. Children talking about their sleep: a cross-sectional survey of differences by ethnicity and socioeconomic status in Aotearoa New Zealand primary schools. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(1):119-133.

Predictors for achieving optimal sleep in healthy children: Exploring sleep patterns in a sleep extension trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Earlier bedtimes can help some children get more sleep, but we don't know which children, or what features of their usual sleep patterns could predict success with this approach. Using data from a randomized crossover trial of sleep manipulation, we sought to determine this. METHODS: Participants were 99 children aged 8-12years (49.5% female) with no sleep disturbances. Sleep was measured by actigraphy at baseline and over a restriction or extension week (1 hour later or earlier bedtime respectively), randomly allocated and separated by a washout week. Data were compared between baseline (week 1) and extension weeks only (week 3 or 5), using linear or logistic regression analyses as appropriate, controlling for randomization order. RESULTS: One hour less total sleep time than average at baseline predicted 29.7 minutes (95% CI: 19.4, 40.1) of sleep gained and 3.45 (95% CI: 1.74, 6.81) times higher odds of successfully extending sleep by >30 minutes. Per standardized variable, less total sleep time and a shorter sleep period time were the strongest predictors (significant odds ratios (ORs) of 2.51 and 2.28, respectively). Later sleep offset, more variability in sleep timing and lower sleep efficiency also predicted sleep gains. The sleep period time cut-point that optimized prediction of successful sleep gains was <8 hours 28 minutes with 75% of children's baseline sleep in that range. CONCLUSIONS: Children with a baseline sleep period time <8½ hours a night obtained the most sleep from earlier bedtimes maintained over a week, demonstrating experimentally the value of earlier bedtimes to improve sleep. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12618001671257, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367587&isReview=true.

Where does the time go when children don't sleep? A randomized crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe how mild sleep deprivation in children changes time spent physically active and sedentary. METHODS: In 2018 through 2020, children (n = 105) with normal sleep were randomized to go to bed 1 hour earlier (extension) or 1 hour later (restriction) than their usual bedtime for 1 week, each separated by a 1-week washout. Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors were measured with waist-worn actigraphy and expressed in minutes and proportions (percentages). Mixed-effects regression models determined mean differences in time use (95% CI) between conditions. Time gained from sleep lost that was reallocated to other movement behaviors in the 24-hour day was modeled using regression. RESULTS: Children (n = 96) gained ~49 minutes of awake time when sleep was restricted compared with extended. This time was mostly reallocated to sedentary behavior (28 minutes; 95% CI: 19-37), followed by physical activity (22 minutes; 95% CI: 14-30). When time was expressed as a percentage, the overall composition of movement behavior remained similar across both sleep conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Children were not less physically active when mildly sleep deprived. Time gained from sleeping less was proportionally, rather than preferentially, reallocated to sedentary time and physical activity. These findings suggest that decreased physical activity seems unlikely to explain the association between short sleep and obesity in children.