Assessment of Sleep‐Disordered Breathing and Sleep Quality in Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease: A Single‐Center Experience

BACKGROUND: While adult patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) commonly experience poor sleep quality characterized by abnormal sleep architecture, increased fragmentation, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), children's interstitial lung disease (chILD)-a heterogeneous group of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases-remains less studied in terms of its impact on sleep. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess sleep quality and the prevalence of SDB, and to investigate potential associations between SDB and clinical, functional, and radiological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study included children diagnosed with ILD. Sleep questionnaire scores, polysomnography (PSG) parameters, and SDB outcomes were recorded and compared between patients with and without lung fibrosis. RESULTS: Of 30 patients (36.7% female, mean age 115 ± 59.3 months), 77% were diagnosed with OSAS (63.3% mild, 13.3% moderate). Sleep efficiency was below 85% in 20% of cases, and REM sleep was reduced in 90%. Median AHI was 1.8. According to sleep questionnaires, 80% of patients had impaired sleep quality, and 60% showed an increased risk for SDB. No significant association was found between pulmonary fibrosis and SDB. CONCLUSION: Contrary to common belief, SDB is not rare in chILD, and PSG alongside sleep questionnaires should be used in follow-up to improve screening and detection.