# The association between Children's sleep quality and juvenile idiopathic arthritis

## TL;DR

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experience significantly worse sleep quality compared to healthy children, linked to disease activity and medication use.

## Contribution

This study identifies specific sleep disturbances in JIA patients and their associations with disease markers and functional status.

## Key findings

- JIA patients had significantly higher sleep disturbance rates compared to healthy controls.
- Sleep duration and daytime sleepiness correlated with disease activity and functional impairment.
- Medication use was associated with arousal disorders in JIA patients.

## Abstract

To investigate possible sleep disturbances in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

This case-control investigation evaluated 48 JIA patients vs. 90 healthy controls through comprehensive clinical assessments. Disease activity was quantified using the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS-27), while health-related quality of life was measured with the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28). Pain intensity was assessed through dual Methods: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Wong Baker Faces Scale. Fatigue levels were evaluated via the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS), and sleep quality was analyzed using both the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). All statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS 26.0, employing independent t-tests for intergroup comparisons and Spearman correlation analysis for variable relationships.

The incidence of sleep disturbance was significantly higher in the JIA group (P < 0.01). CSHQ assessments reveal abnormal total scores and six subdomains (sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, etc.; all P < 0.05), with specific correlations: total scores link to disease activity (JADAS-27/AJC; P = 0.021–0.05), shortened sleep duration strongly associates with ESR/functional status (P = 0.002/0.006), and daytime sleepiness connects to physician global assessments (PGA/PGE; P = 0.017–0.029). SDSC evaluations indicate abnormalities in four domains (all P < 0.05), notably: night hyperhidrosis correlates with disease activity markers (P = 0.032–0.039), excessive sleepiness associates with fatigue/functional impairment (P = 0.014/0.038), and arousal disorders relate to medication use (P = 0.029).

JIA patients show significantly higher rates of sleep disorders compared to healthy children, primarily due to disease activity, functional impairment, and medication effects.