What are the most common findings during a sleep study for a pediatric patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)?

From the Research

The most common findings during a sleep study for pediatric patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) include sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), and hypersomnia, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2018 1.

Common Sleep Disorders in Pediatric EDS Patients

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): occurs due to the connective tissue laxity affecting upper airway stability
• Insomnia: affects sleep quality and duration
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): characterized by periodic limb movements during sleep
• Hypersomnia: excessive daytime sleepiness

Sleep Study Findings

• Increased sleep fragmentation with frequent arousals and awakenings
• Reduced sleep efficiency and decreased total sleep time
• Abnormal sleep architecture with reduced REM sleep and altered sleep stage distribution

Management and Treatment

• Pharmacologic treatment: required in 65% of patients 1
• Behavioral sleep medicine: referred in 29% of patients 1
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): required in some patients with OSA 1

Importance of Screening for Sleep Disorders

• High prevalence of sleep disorders in pediatric EDS patients 1, 2
• Significant improvement in quality of life and questionnaire scores after treatment 1
• Need for early detection and management of sleep disorders to prevent long-term consequences on health and well-being.