Prevalence of sleep disorders in children with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis

Background The reported prevalence of sleep disorders in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) varies greatly. A quantitative meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of sleep disorders among pediatric CKD patients may provide further information. Objectives The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sleep disorders in children with CKD. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021268378). Data sources Two authors independently searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane review databases up to June 2021. Study eligibility criteria Eligible studies include data of prevalence of sleep disorders in children with CKD. Study appraisal and synthesis methods The prevalence of restless legs syndrome, sleep-disordered breathing, pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (i.e., apnea-hypopnea index > 1 event/h in polysomnography), excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia/insufficient sleep was estimated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted to compare the prevalence of sleep disorders between children on dialysis and not on dialysis. This meta-analysis included 12 studies with 595 children (mean age: 12.9 years; gender ratio: 55.6% boys; mean sample size: 49.6 patients). Results The prevalence of restless legs syndrome in children with CKD was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14-30%). The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing, pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia/insufficient sleep was 22% (95% CI, 12-36%), 34% (95% CI, 19-53%), 27% (95% CI, 17-41%), and 14% (95% CI, 7-27%), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed the pooled prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in children on dialysis than in children not on dialysis (43.3% vs. 11.2%; P=0.018). Children on dialysis also had a high prevalence of other sleeping disorders, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. Children with CKD exhibited a 3.9-fold (95% CI, 1.37 to 10.93) increased risk of restless legs syndrome and a 9.6-fold (95% CI, 3.57 to 25.76) increased risk of excessive daytime sleepiness compared with controls. Limitations The selected papers are of small sample size, lack of a control group, and exhibit substantial heterogeneity. Conclusions Sleep disorders are common in children with CKD. Our results indicate that while the prevalence rates of various sleep disorders were higher in children on dialysis than in children not on dialysis, the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was statistically significant in children on dialysis.