Meta-Analysis Reveals Varied Sleep Patterns in Intellectual Disabilities

Sleepless Woman Suffering

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New results from a systematic review concluded individuals with genetic syndromes or specific neurodevelopmental conditions exhibit both shorter sleep durations and poorer sleep quality, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and tailored support systems.

Employing objective, validated measures, the included studies have sought to shed light on the complexities of sleep-related issues in this population while this meta-analysis assessed these studies, pooling findings to discern overarching trends and nuances in sleep duration and quality among individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The systematic review encompassed 3 prominent databases: Ovid Embase, PsycInfo, and Medline. The search yielded recent papers comparing sleep in individuals with intellectual disabilities to control participants. Building upon prior meta-analyses, the investigators employed a rigorous quality framework to assess the risk of bias in these studies.

The investigation focused on sleep duration and sleep quality, comparing findings across studies involving participants with genetic syndromes or neurodevelopmental conditions and those with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities.

Incorporating 13 new papers with existing literature, the meta-analysis synthesized data from a total of 34 papers. While the overall quality of the studies was commendable, potential bias risks arose from sampling methods, and adaptive functioning measurements were notably lacking, the study stated.

The results highlighted significant disparities in sleep patterns between the target population and the control population.

• Sleep Duration: Individuals with intellectual disabilities associated with genetic syndromes or neurodevelopmental conditions exhibited shorter sleep durations compared with their counterparts (standardized mean difference = 0.26). However, there was no significant difference in sleep duration among individuals with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities.
• Sleep Quality: Both groups of individuals with intellectual disabilities, whether linked to specific genetic syndromes or of heterogeneous origin, experienced poorer sleep quality compared with the control group. The difference was particularly striking among those with genetic syndromes or neurodevelopmental conditions (standardized mean difference = 0.68).

According to the systematic review, this meta-analysis represents a significant advancement in the understanding of sleep patterns among these individuals. Over the past 8 years, there has been a 47% increase in studies examining sleep duration and 61% more studies assessing sleep quality.

The research acknowledged differences among individuals with specific genetic syndromes or developmental disorders and those with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities. Various factors, including circadian rhythm disparities and distinct biopsychosocial models, could contribute to these differences.

While targeted interventions are crucial for those with identified conditions, individuals with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities, representing a substantial portion of the population, require more research attention and support regarding their sleep challenges, investigators stated

Studies included in the analysis demonstrated overall good quality, indicating an increased use of objective sleep measurement methods, such as actigraphy. However, the study noted that the research was skewed toward children and specific geographical regions, primarily Western Europe and North America.

The heterogeneity in participant groups, recruitment methods, and research methodologies adds complexity to the interpretation of results, underscoring the multifactorial nature of sleep disturbances in this population.

The results indicated an urgency of comprehensive research and tailored interventions for these individuals, emphasizing the need to address sleep issues as a critical aspect of their overall well-being, investigators concluded.

Reference

Browne, E. G., King, J. R., and Surtees, A. D. R. Sleep in people with and without intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Intellect Disabil Res. Published online October 19, 2023. Doi:doi.org/10.1111/jir.13093