Background: To investigate whether children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have sleep disorders, and the sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of mothers who are primary caregivers.
Methods: Clinical data and gross motor functional status of 24 patients with DMD were measured using the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children scores were evaluated to determine their sleep features. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were used to measure sleep quality, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were used to measure daytime sleepiness of 24 mothers.
Results: Sleep disturbances were observed in 62.5% (n = 15) of patients, 41.6% (n = 5) of those who were GMFCS I-II-III and in 83.3% (n = 10) who were IV-V level. A disturbed sleep pattern was observed in 3 (33.3%) of 9 patients who were younger than 10 and in 12 (80.0%) of 15 patients who were older than 10. Of mothers, 54.2% had low sleep quality, which was present in 83.3% of mothers with GMFCS IV-V children and 54.2% of those with GMFCS I-II-III children. Ten (41.6%) mothers had increased daytime sleepiness, which was present in 66.6% of mothers with GMFCS IV-V children and 16.6% of mothers with GMFCS I-II-III children.
Conclusions: Sleep disturbances increase in parallel to loss of gross motor functions in patients with DMD, which has had negative impact on the sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of the caregiver.