Sleep actigraphy evidence of improved sleep after treatment of allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Children with allergic rhinitis (AR) are reported to have disturbed sleep and daytime fatigue due to nasal obstruction.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sleep impairment in children with AR using actigraphic evaluation.


METHODS
Fourteen children aged 7 to 16 years with grass pollen-sensitized seasonal AR were enrolled. They completed the Total 4-Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system for AR symptom score and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire for sleep quality, and they underwent actigraphy for 3 days in the pretreatment period. After topical corticosteroid and antihistaminic treatment for 8 weeks, actigraphy, the T4SS, and the PSQI were repeated. Fourteen healthy children aged 8 to 16 years underwent actigraphy and completed the PSQI questionnaire as controls.


RESULTS
There were no significant age or sex differences between the AR and control groups. Pretreatment PSQI and actigraphy scores were worse in the AR group vs the control group. After treatment, sleep quality improved, and there were no differences in actigraphy and PSQI scores between the 2 groups. Before treatment, the T4SS was significantly correlated with the sleep efficiency, daytime napping episodes, and total nap duration variables of actigraphy (r = -0.53, P = .004; r = 0.43, P = .02; and r = 0.39, P = .04, respectively). The T4SS was correlated with the total PSQI score (r = 0.67, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep can be compromised in children with AR. There is a significant correlation of clinical symptom score with the actigraphic and PSQI variables. Therefore, actigraphy may be used as an objective tool to evaluate sleep disturbance in children with AR.
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. hyukselefe@hotmail.com
Hasan
H
Yuksel
Ayhan
A
Sogut
Hikmet
H
Yilmaz
Ozge
O
Yilmaz
Gonul
G
Dinc
D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; C472067:levocetirizine; D000068298:Fluticasone; D017332:Cetirizine