Associations between secondhand smoke exposure and sleep patterns in children.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and child sleep patterns among a group of children with asthma who were exposed regularly to tobacco smoke at home.

METHODS

We studied 219 children who were enrolled in an asthma intervention trial and were exposed regularly to SHS. Serum cotinine levels were used to measure exposure to tobacco smoke, and sleep patterns were assessed through parent reports using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Covariates in adjusted analyses included gender, age, race, maternal marital status, education, and income, prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal depression, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment total score, household density, asthma severity, and use of asthma medications.

RESULTS

Exposure to SHS was associated with sleep problems, including longer sleep-onset delay (P = .004), sleep-disordered breathing (P = .02), parasomnias (P = .002), daytime sleepiness (P = .022), and overall sleep disturbance (P = .0002).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that exposure to SHS is associated with increased sleep problems among children with asthma.