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Volume 17
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Article

Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study

by
Isabella Meneses da Silva
1,
Maria Clara Helena do Couto
2,
Sanseray da Silveira Cruz-Machado
2,
Leticia Monteiro de Andrade
1,
Ana Elisa Zuliani Stroppa Marques
3,
Celia Maria Giacheti
2,4,
Cristiane Rodrigues Pedroni
2,3 and
Luciana Pinato
2,4,*
1
Undergraduate Program in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Marilia 17525-900, Brazil
2
Graduate Program in Health Sciences and Human Communication, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Marilia 17525-900, Brazil
3
Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Marilia 17525-900, Brazil
4
Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Marilia 17525-900, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Neurol. Int. 2025, 17(7), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070101
Submission received: 8 May 2025 / Revised: 16 June 2025 / Accepted: 18 June 2025 / Published: 30 June 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with sleep disturbances, particularly sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and is often linked to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is underdiagnosed in this population due to the lack of standardized methods and limited access to appropriate diagnostic technologies and appropriate equipment. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the presence and severity of sleep disorders, with a particular focus on OSA, in children and adolescents with CP compared to their typically developing peers. Methods: This observational, clinical, and prospective study included 28 children and adolescents with CP and 32 age- and sex-matched typically developing individuals. Sleep disturbances were assessed using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) and a high-resolution oximeter plus actigraphy combined with a cloud-based algorithm for the detection of obstructive sleep apnea (Biologix® system), which provided data on oxygen saturation, snoring, movement during sleep, and total sleep time. Results: According to the SDSC, 92% of children and adolescents with CP presented scores indicative of sleep disturbances, compared to 31% of typically developing individuals. SDB was the most prevalent subtype (64%) and overnight oximetry revealed that 100% of the CP group presented oxygen desaturation index (ODI) values consistent with a diagnosis of OSA. The CP group also exhibited significantly lower mean SpO2, longer snoring duration, shorter total sleep time, and prolonged sleep latency compared to the typically developing group. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit a high prevalence of sleep disturbances, with increasing evidence indicating a significant occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Keywords: cerebral palsy; sleep apnea syndromes; oximetry; sleep disorders; children cerebral palsy; sleep apnea syndromes; oximetry; sleep disorders; children

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MDPI and ACS Style

Meneses da Silva, I.; do Couto, M.C.H.; da Silveira Cruz-Machado, S.; de Andrade, L.M.; Marques, A.E.Z.S.; Giacheti, C.M.; Pedroni, C.R.; Pinato, L. Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study. Neurol. Int. 2025, 17, 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070101

AMA Style

Meneses da Silva I, do Couto MCH, da Silveira Cruz-Machado S, de Andrade LM, Marques AEZS, Giacheti CM, Pedroni CR, Pinato L. Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study. Neurology International. 2025; 17(7):101. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070101

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meneses da Silva, Isabella, Maria Clara Helena do Couto, Sanseray da Silveira Cruz-Machado, Leticia Monteiro de Andrade, Ana Elisa Zuliani Stroppa Marques, Celia Maria Giacheti, Cristiane Rodrigues Pedroni, and Luciana Pinato. 2025. "Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study" Neurology International 17, no. 7: 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070101

APA Style

Meneses da Silva, I., do Couto, M. C. H., da Silveira Cruz-Machado, S., de Andrade, L. M., Marques, A. E. Z. S., Giacheti, C. M., Pedroni, C. R., & Pinato, L. (2025). Sleep Disturbances and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study. Neurology International, 17(7), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17070101

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