Baby survival in Zambia: stillbirth and neonatal death in a local hospital setting.

BACKGROUND: Globally, 2.6 million stillbirths occur every year. Of these, 98% occur in developing countries. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, the neonatal mortality rate in Zambia in 2014 was 2.4%. In 2016, the World Health Organization released the International Classification of Diseases - Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) as a globally applicable and comparable system for the classification of the causes of perinatal deaths. However, data for developing countries are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates and causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths at a local hospital in Zimba, Zambia to identify opportunities for preventive interventions. METHODS: All cases of stillbirths and neonatal deaths at Zimba Mission Hospital in Zambia in 2017 were included in this study. Outborn neonates who were transferred to the hospital and later died were also included in the study. Causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths were analyzed and classified according to ICD-PM. RESULTS: In total, 1754 babies were born via 1704 deliveries at the hospital, and 28 neonates were transferred to the hospital after birth. The total number of perinatal deaths was 75 (4.2%), with 7 deaths in the antepartum, 25 deaths in the intrapartum, and 43 deaths in the neonatal period. Most antepartum deaths (n = 5; 71.4%) were classified as fetal deaths of unspecified causes. Intrapartum deaths were due to acute intrapartum events (n = 21; 84.0%) or malformations, deformations, or chromosomal abnormalities (n = 4; 16.0%). Neonatal deaths were related primarily to complications from intrapartum events (n = 19; 44.2%); low birth weight or prematurity (n = 16; 37.2%); or infection (n = 3; 7.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal deaths were associated with acute intrapartum events and considered preventable in 40 cases (53.3%). Effective interventions to prevent perinatal deaths are needed.

Neurocognitive assessment of children with neurodevelopmental disorders: Preliminary findings.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, and is often treated pharmacologically. It is necessary to use both subjective and objective assessments to diagnose and determine the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in children with ADHD, but cognitive assessment tools for ADHD are scarce. We examined a computer-administered, brief, and repeatable cognitive assessment tool: CogHealth. The aims of this study were to use the CogHealth battery, an objective assessment tool, to compare cognitive function between children with ADHD or ADHD + autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy children and to assess improvements in cognitive function following pharmacological treatment. METHODS: We measured the cognitive function of nine children with ADHD or ADHD + ASD using CogHealth and compared the results with those of 33 age-matched children from the community. Cognitive function comparisons were made before and after psychostimulant treatment with methylphenidate. RESULTS: We detected significant cognitive abnormalities in the children with ADHD, compared with the control subjects. The children with pre-treatment ADHD had significantly more errors on the detection task (DT), and more anticipatory errors in the one card learning task, compared with control children. The children with ADHD significantly improved their accuracy on the one back test (OBT), and had significantly fewer errors, anticipatory errors, and shorter reaction times after osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate treatment. CONCLUSION: The DT is a useful neurocognitive function assessment for children with ADHD, and the OBT can measure pharmacological treatment effectiveness in children with ADHD.

Suicidal ideation in adolescents and their caregivers: a cross sectional survey in Japan.

BACKGROUNDS: Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescence. Effective strategies are required to prevent suicide. We aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation in early teens and the relationship between family mental health and suicidal ideation of their child. METHODS: A population-based survey in a rural town included 185 junior high school students and their caregivers. Suicidal ideation and mental states were assessed with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) form. RESULTS: Nineteen (10.3 %) students experienced suicidal ideation in the preceding weeks and had more mental health problems than students without suicidal ideation. Caregivers of students with suicidal ideation demonstrated significantly higher suicidal depression scores in GHQ. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that suicidal depression of caregivers was the most important factor for suicidal ideation of students. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation of children is associated with suicidal depression of their caregivers. For the prevention of suicide in adolescents, not only their own mental status but also that of caregivers should be taken into consideration.

Developmental quotient to estimate intelligence in autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across contexts, and are associated with restricted patterns of behavior. The developmental quotient (DQ) is based on the developmental age and chronological age of children. This study investigated the utility of the DQ to estimate cognitive ability in young children with ASD. METHODS: The DQ and intelligence quotient (IQ) were assessed using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001 (KSPD) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III), respectively. The correlation between the DQ and IQ was then analyzed among children with ASD. RESULTS: We enrolled 18 children with ASD (16 boys, two girls; age, 63.6 ± 9.4 months; age range, 45-83 months). Overall, Cognitive-Adaptive and Language-Social DQ scores were significantly correlated with IQ score in the full scale, verbal, and performance domains. Full-scale IQ and overall DQ had a linear correlation (y = -22.747 + 1.177x, R2 = 0.677, R = 0.823). CONCLUSIONS: The DQ scores obtained using the KSPD were a reasonable estimate of cognitive ability in children with ASD. The KSPD may be a useful alternative to the WISC-III for young children with ASD and could facilitate earlier assessment.

Internet addiction: Prevalence and relation with mental states in adolescents.

AIM: Internet addiction disrupts the daily lives of adolescents. We investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction in junior high school students, elucidated the relation between Internet addiction and mental states, and determined the factors associated with Internet addiction in adolescents. METHODS: Junior high school students (aged 12-15 years) were assessed using Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and a questionnaire on access to electronic devices. RESULTS: Based on total IAT scores, 2.0% (male, 2.1%; female, 1.9%) and 21.7% (male, 19.8%; female, 23.6%) of the total 853 participants (response rate, 97.6%) were classified as addicted and possibly addicted, respectively. Total GHQ scores were significantly higher in the addicted (12.9 ± 7.4) and possibly addicted groups (8.8 ± 6.0) than in the non-addicted group (4.3 ± 4.6; P < 0.001, both groups). A comparison of the percentage of students in the pathological range of GHQ scores revealed significantly higher scores in the possibly addicted group than in the non-addicted group. Further, accessibility to smartphones was significantly associated with Internet addiction. CONCLUSION: Students in the addicted and possibly addicted groups were considered 'problematic' Internet users. Use of smartphones warrants special attention, being among the top factors contributing to Internet addiction.

[The Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep and Neurodevelopmental Disorders].

Neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are commonly associated with sleep disturbances. The etiology of sleep disorders is multifactorial, such as congenital vulnerability of the quality and quantity of sleep, congenital abnormality of the sleep-wake pattern, comorbid sleep problems with developmental disorders, and sleep disturbances associated with pharmacological treat- ment. Obstructive sleep apnea disorder (OSAS) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are closely associated with ADHD. OSAS in children not only presents with symptoms of sleep distur- bances, but also with associated symptoms such as growth failure, neurocognitive and behav- ioral symptoms, ADHD-like symptoms, and enuresis. The first-line treatment is adenotonsillec- tomy. ADHD and RLS show high rates of comorbidity with common etiologies like iron defi- ciency and the alternation of dopamine transporter expression. Hypnotics are not effective for RLS, and a precise diagnosis is vital to treat RLS associated with ADHD. ASD is also associated with a high frequency of sleep disorders, especially insomnia, para- somnia, and sleep-wake disorders. The first strategy against sleep disturbances is behavioral intervention ; however, pharmacological treatment is sometimes needed. In clinical practice, excessive daytime sleepiness was reported in children with ADHD or ASD, which might lead to a deficit in alertness. Alertness deficits associated with neurodevel- opmental disorders remain uncertain, and so they should be assessed. The effect of stimulants on sleep in patients with ADHD differed among individuals, which might be the cause of insomnia and also treatment for ADHD and sleep hygiene. Non-stimu- lants are often effective for insomnia. Neurodevelopmental and sleep disorders are complex and bidirectional. Sleep disturbances should be taken into consideration in daily clinical practice.

Associations among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep-disordered breathing in an urban male working population in Japan.

BACKGROUND: There are few reports about sleep disturbances in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Asian countries. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with hypoxemia and sleep quality, including sleep duration, in patients with COPD, we measured SDB and sleep quality including the objective sleep duration determined by an actigraph and portable monitoring. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological health survey of 303 male employees (means ± SD: age 43.9 ± 8.2 years; BMI 24.0 ± 3.1) was conducted. Sleep quality was measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ≥5 indicated SDB. RESULTS: Nineteen subjects (6.3%) had COPD. Among these, 11 (3.6%) had COPD with SDB (overlap syndrome). Sleep duration, ESS, and PSQI scores were not significantly different between COPD patients and normal control subjects. However, COPD patients had significantly longer sleep latency (p = 0.019), a lower sleep efficiency (p = 0.017), and a higher sleep fragmentation index (p = 0.041) and average activity (p = 0.0097) during sleep than control subjects. They also had a significantly higher RDI and more severe desaturation during sleep than control subjects (p < 0.01). The differences remained after adjustment for age and BMI but disappeared following adjustment for RDI. CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients with even mild-to-moderate airflow limitations had nocturnal desaturation and RDI-related impaired sleep quality without significant symptoms.

Age- and sex-related emotional and behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: comparison with control children.

AIM: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often present with emotional and behavioral problems, which could change the clinical course, especially during childhood, and affect future quality of life. The aim of this study was to clarify the age- and sex-related differences of these problems in ASD. METHODS: The study subjects were 173 patients with ASD (age: 4-16 years) and 173 age- and sex-matched community children (control group). The parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used for comparison of the emotional and behavioral problems between the two groups. RESULTS: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores were significantly higher in children with ASD than controls at all ages. The score of total difficulties was significantly higher in girls with ASD than in boys, while the score in male controls was significantly higher than in female controls. Age-related differences in emotional and behavioral problems were observed both in children with ASD and controls, but the characteristics were different: in children with ASD, emotional symptoms and peer problems in both sexes and conduct problems in girls increased significantly with age, while none of the problems in the controls changed with age except for a decrease in the score of hyperactivity/inattention developmentally in both sexes. Prosocial behaviors of children with ASD and controls showed small changes with age. CONCLUSION: Emotional and behavioral problems are common in children with ASD and showed age- and sex-related differences. Our study emphasizes the importance of recognizing those differences among children with ASD for early intervention.

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale for restless legs syndrome in a clinical trial setting.

AIM: This study was conducted to verify the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale for restless legs syndrome (J-IRLS) as a sub-study of a clinical trial of pramipexole against restless legs syndrome. METHODS: After evaluating the test-retest reliability, concurrent validity and construct validity were analyzed. The responsiveness of J-IRLS was confirmed by evaluating the correlations between the changes in J-IRLS total score after treatment, Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-I), and Patient Global Impression. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability of J-IRLS was good (intra-class correlation coefficient, 0.877; 95% confidence interval, 0.802-0.925). The correlation coefficient of J-IRLS total score and CGI-S score for the first and second visit was 0.804 and 0.796, respectively (both P < 0.0001). Factor analysis of J-IRLS itemsalone identified a two-factor structure. Exploratory analysis on 10 items of J-IRLS together with the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index revealed that several items on the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index appeared as the third factor. The correlations of CGI-I and Patient Global Impression with change in J-IRLS total score after treatment were highly significant. CONCLUSIONS: Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of J-IRLS were considered adequate. The scale is highly applicable both for evaluating the severity of restless legs syndrome and for assessing drug efficacy.

Differences in relationships among sleep apnoea, glucose level, sleep duration and sleepiness between persons with and without type 2 diabetes.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is common in patients with diabetes. Recently, it was reported that short sleep duration and sleepiness had deleterious effects on glucose metabolism. Thereafter, several reports showed relationships between glucose metabolism and obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep duration or sleepiness. But the interrelationships among those factors based on recent epidemiological data have not been examined. We analysed data on 275 male employees (age, 44±8years; body mass index, 23.9±3.1kg m(-2) ) who underwent a cross-sectional health examination in Japan. We measured fasting plasma glucose, sleep duration using a sleep diary and an actigraph for 7days, and respiratory disturbance index with a type 3 portable monitor for two nights. Fifty-four subjects (19.6%) had impaired glucose metabolism, with 21 having diabetes. Of those 21 (body mass index, 25.9±3.8kgm(-2) ), 17 (81.0%) had obstructive sleep apnoea (respiratory disturbance index≥5). Regarding the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea, 10, four and three had mild, moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea, respectively. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea was greater in those with than without diabetes (P=0.037). Multiple regression analyses showed that the respiratory disturbance index independently related to fasting plasma glucose only in the diabetic subjects. In patients with diabetes, after adjustment for age, waist circumference, etc. sleep fragmentation had a greater correlation with fasting plasma glucose than sleep duration, but without significance (P=0.10). Because the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea is extremely high in patients with diabetes, sufficient sleep duration with treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, which ameliorates sleep fragmentation, might improve fasting plasma glucose.

Discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Lack of correlation between subjective and objective measurements of daytime sleepiness is common. Here, the frequency of discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness, as well as possible predictors, were examined for an adolescent cohort. METHODS: This study included pediatric patients (aged 10-18 years, n = 211) with various sleep disorder symptoms were evaluated between August 2011 and February 2021. Subjective and objective sleepiness were assessed based on eleven or more scores of the Japanese version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a mean sleep latency of 8.0 min or less on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, respectively. Patients were then classified as both subjectively and objectively sleepy, objectively sleepy, subjectively sleepy, and non-sleepy. Discrepancy-related factors were identified with multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The frequency of discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness was 46.4%, with 35.5% (75/211) of the patients exhibiting subjective sleepiness without objective sleepiness and 10.9% (23/211) of the patients exhibiting objective sleepiness without subjective sleepiness. Co-existence of neurodevelopmental disorders was associated more often with subjective sleepiness compared to non-sleepiness (odds ratio (OR), 4.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30 to 12.99) or concordant sleepiness (OR, 7.54; 95% CI, 2.43 to 23.38). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the patients exhibited discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness, and it more often involved subjective sleepiness. Furthermore, age, bedtime, and neurodevelopmental disorders were identified as significant factors related to subjective sleepiness without objective sleepiness.

The Japanese version of the children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ-J): A validation study and influencing factors.

SUBJECT: This study aimed to validate the Japanese version of the Child's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-J) and identify which factors affect the CHSQ-J total score. METHODS: The participants were 3158 children (aged 4-12 years) and their parent/guardian, as community samples from large, medium-sized, and small cities. Each parent/guardian filled in the questionnaire set (CSHQ-J, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, demographic data: family structure, sleep environment, participants' present illness, and economic information); we also collected 51 clinical samples from our facility to calculate the cutoff score. According to the age of the participants in the original CSHQ (4-10 years), validation was assessed statistically via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and internal consistency (verified by Cronbach's α). Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting the CSHQ-J total score. RESULTS: We received responses from 2687 participants (response rate: 85%) and analyzed 1688 participants who were the age of the original CSHQ participants. The alpha coefficients of each subscale of the CSHQ-J ranged from 0.43 to 0.68. The cutoff score was 48 (sensitivity: 0.69, specificity: 0.79). The confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses did not converge. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors that significantly influenced the CSHQ-J total score were co-sleeping, supplemental sleep, and child's age. Present illness, especially adenoids, also significantly influenced CSHQ total score. CONCLUSIONS: The CSHQ-J has adequate internal consistency and is useful for screening for pediatric sleep disorders. Supplemental sleep, habit of co-sleeping, and child's age should be considered when using the CSHQ-J as a screening tool for sleep problems in children.

Effects of the presence of hypertension on the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and sleepiness.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) plays a significant role in increasing blood pressure. Significant decreases were reported in blood pressure of hypertensive OSA patients with sleepiness who underwent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, but not in non-sleepy hypertensive OSA patients. More recently, however, significant decreases in blood pressure in non-sleepy hypertensive OSA patients following CPAP were shown. Effects of sleepiness on hypertension in OSA patients have been investigated, but not the effects of hypertension on sleepiness in OSA patients. We investigated the relationships between hypertension and sleepiness in patients with OSA. We analysed data on 275 middle-aged male subjects from a cross-sectional epidemiological health survey. We measured blood pressure and sleep duration objectively using an actigraph for 7 days and the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) with a type 3 portable device for 2 nights, and assessed sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The RDI correlated significantly with ESS scores in the 88 hypertensive subjects (r = 0.33, P = 0.0024), but not in the 187 non-hypertensive subjects (r = -0.01, P = 0.91). Short sleep duration correlated significantly with ESS scores in both groups. Both the RDI and short sleep duration were related independently to sleepiness in only hypertensive subjects. Furthermore, the RDI was related negatively significantly to sleep duration in hypertensive subjects. Although short sleep duration was related significantly to sleepiness in both groups, hypertension may be important for the sleepiness in OSA patients. Detailed mechanisms of the difference in the relationship between sleepiness and the severity of OSA with or without hypertension should be studied further.

Seasonal effects on the continuous positive airway pressure adherence of patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined seasonal differences in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy adherence among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Patients aged ≥20 years with OSA who had used CPAP devices on the automatic setting for >12 consecutive months (n = 141) were included in this retrospective study from December 2015-2016. The information of CPAP use (pressure, hours of actual use) was extracted from database downloaded from patients' CPAP devices. Patients were divided into adherent and non-adherent groups using the cutoff point of 70% CPAP use for ≥4 h daily over the 1-year study period. CPAP use data were averaged for each season. RESULTS: Patients in the adherent group were significantly older than those in the non-adherent group (p < 0.001). In the adherent group, the rate of ≥4 h daily CPAP use was significantly lower, the daily duration of CPAP use was significantly shorter, and the residual apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; events/hour) was significantly higher in summer than in other seasons (all p < 0.001). In the non-adherent group, the duration of daily CPAP use and the AHI differed significantly between winter and summer (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal changes were associated with the CPAP adherence of patients with OSA. The study findings suggest that there is possibility of increasing the duration of CPAP use by adjusting the bedroom environment in hot and humid seasons.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Clinical Population: Prevalence, Predictive Factors, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Referred to a Sleep Center in Mongolia.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disrupts sleep. This study examined factors related to OSA severity. A cross-sectional, prospective, hospital-based study was conducted with 205 patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG). Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, PSG, and sleep quality assessment data were analyzed. Participants (N = 205) were classified into four groups based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI); no OSA (AHI < 5/h; N = 14), mild (mOSA, 5 < AHI < 15/h; N = 50), moderate (modOSA, 15 < AHI < 30/h; N = 41), severe (sOSA, 30 < AHI < 60/h; N = 50), and very severe (vsOSA, AHI ≥ 60; N = 50). Men had more severe OSA than women (p < 0.001). Anthropometric characteristics differed with OSA severity (p < 0.001). OSA patients had decreased sleep quality and increased excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Body mass index (BMI), neck/waist circumference, and blood pressure (BP) differed between groups (p < 0.001). Patients with vsOSA had the highest Mallampati grades (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that OSA severity was related to gender and sleep quality. PSG parameters (oxygen saturation, systolic BP, and arousal/respiratory arousal) were strongly related to OSA severity. In conclusion, about half of study-referred patients had severe/very severe OSA; these groups were predominantly obese men with high BP. OSA severity associated with high BP, BMI, waist circumference, and neck circumference.

Mental health and sleep habits/problems in children aged 3-4 years: a population study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is essential for mental health at all ages, but few studies have investigated the importance of sleep for mental health in early childhood. Therefore, this study examined the association between mental health and sleep habits/problems in children aged 3-4 years. METHODS: Children aged 3 to 4 years who were living in the community (n = 415; 211/204 boys/girls) were recruited for this study. Their mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and their sleep habits/problems were evaluated using the Child and Adolescent Sleep Checklist. RESULTS: Based on the total difficulties score of the SDQ, the children were divided into two groups: a poor mental health group (n = 76) and a control group (n = 339). In terms of sleep habits, which included total sleep time, bedtime, wake time, and nap conditions, there were no differences between the two groups. Regarding sleep-related problems, however, anxiety before going to sleep (p = 0.026), circadian rhythm abnormalities (p = 0.014), and sleepiness during classes outside of naptimes (p = 0.031) were significantly higher in the poor mental health group than in the control group. Multiple regression analysis showed that poor mental health status was significantly associated with sleepiness and snoring (p = 0.017 and p = 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The mental health status of 3-4-year-old children was associated with sleep-related problems, namely sleepiness and snoring. Healthcare providers should pay attention to children's irregular sleep-wake patterns; moreover, interventions for appropriate sleep hygiene will reduce the psychological burden on both children and their families.

Parent-Adolescent Agreement on Adolescents' Emotional and Behavioral Problems Assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Objective. The perception of emotion and behavior is different between adolescents and their parents. Parent-adolescent agreement on emotional and behavioral problems has not been well researched. The aim of this study was to explore and compare how well the information from themselves matches with the judgments by their parents in terms of emotional and behavioral problems. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted using the self-report and parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A total of 1254 Japanese school adolescents aged 12 to 18 and their parents were assessed almost the same time. The results were analyzed using the paired t-test and 2-way analysis of variance for the discrepancies of parent-adolescent agreements in each age and gender groups. Results. Adolescents obtained higher total difficulty and all subscales scores of SDQ than their parents. The effect of grade on the self/parent discrepancy scores were significantly observed on the conduct problems (P < .001), hyperactivity (P = .009), and prosocial behavior (P < .001). The effect of gender was shown significantly on the emotional problems (P < .001), conduct problems (P < .001), and peer problems (P = .002). Conclusion. Adolescents reported more problems than their parents did. For comprehensive evaluation of adolescents' mental health, it is necessary to draw information from both the adolescents themselves and their parents, and pay attention to the gap between adolescents and their parents' perception.

Associations between obstructive sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, and sleep duration, as measured with an actigraph, in an urban male working population in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), metabolic syndrome (Mets) and short sleep duration are all risk factors for cardiovascular events. There has been no report which has investigated this relationship in an age- and BMI-matched population-based study. The prevalence of OSA in Mets subjects has not been established, although the converse (i.e., the prevalence of Mets in OSA subjects) has been investigated several times. METHODS: This home cardiorespiratory (type 3) sleep study, using an actigraph, was conducted in 275 males working for an urban company. Retrospective measurements of fasting blood parameters were obtained from the company's periodical inspection data. The mean duration between the sleep study and the measurement of blood parameters was 213 days. RESULTS: Although there was a significant relationship between OSA severity and the prevalence of Mets (P < 0.001), the association between severity and Mets was not significant after adjustments were made for age and BMI. Severe OSA was 7.8 times as likely to be present in subjects with Mets (16.2% of all 68 Mets subjects) as those without (2.4% of 207 non-Mets) (P < 0.001). Subject with severe OSA had a significantly short sleep duration (P < 0.05). Sleep duration in Mets subjects was also significantly shorter than in those without (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although increased BMI and age both had a significant effect on the prevalence of OSA in patients with Mets, one of 6 subjects with Mets, but only one of 40 without Mets had severe OSA in an urban male population in Japan. Physicians should take into account this high prevalence of severe OSA in patients with Mets. Sleep duration should be taken into consideration as an important factor in studies investigating the prevalence of severe OSA and Mets.

Differences and associations between nocturnal voiding/nocturia and sleep disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences and associations between nocturnal voiding (NV)/nocturia and sleep disorders. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using an epidemiological survey, we compared residents with non-bothersome NV (NNV) and bothersome NV (BNV) to those with sleep disorders, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), restless leg syndrome (RLS), and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), for patient background, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), sleep status, and general health-related quality of life (HRQL). Furthermore, we investigated associations between BNV and sleep disorders using multivariate analyses. In all 2271 (38%) answers were available, of which 729 (32%), 966 (43%) and 546 (24%) subjects had no NV, NNV and BNV, respectively, and 348 (15%), 52 (2%), 172 (8%) and 62 (3%) were determined as having insomnia, OSAS, RLS and PLMD, respectively. RESULTS: For LUTS, subjects with BNV were significantly worse than those with OSAS, but better than those with RLS and PLMD. Total sleep status in the BNV group was better than that in the insomnia group, but worse than that in the OSAS and RLS groups. General HRQL in the BNV group was worse than that in the OSAS group, and better than that in the RLS and PLMD groups for physical aspects. In mental aspects, subjects with BNV were better than those with insomnia. Insomnia and OSAS had a close correlation with NNV/BNV (P < 0.001-0.022), and PLMD had a significant correlation with BNV (P = 0.031). However, RLS was not associated with NV (P = 0.42) nor with BNV (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: NV/nocturia is closely related to sleep disorders, but obviously different from them in several aspects.

Sleep Habits and Electronic Media Usage in Japanese Children: A Prospective Comparative Analysis of Preschoolers.

Children are increasingly exposed to electronic media, which can potentially influence their sleep habits. However, few studies have investigated the effects of children's life patterns on sleep habits and electronic media usage. This study investigated the differences in sleep habits and electronic media usage between 18- and 42-month-old children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, or staying at home, and respectively enrolled 183 (boys, n = 93; girls, n = 90) and 215 (boys, n = 104; girls, n = 111) 18- and 42-month-old children who underwent health check-ups. We found that 18-month-old children attending nursery school had significantly earlier wake times on weekdays and shorter sleep durations on weekends than children who stayed at home despite no differences in electronic media usage. There were no differences in sleep duration among 42-month-old children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, or staying at home; however, kindergarteners demonstrated a higher use of portable and home video games. Different life patterns affect electronic media usage in preschool children, especially those attending kindergarten. Particular attention should be paid to the higher usage of electronic media devices by kindergarteners, although they had the same sleep duration, as did other preschool children.