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Sleep problems increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain in boys but not girls: a prospective cohort study

Andreucci, Alessandro; Campbell, Paul; Mundy, Lisa K.; Sawyer, Susan M.; Kosola, Silja; Patton, George C.; Dunn, Kate M.

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Authors

Alessandro Andreucci

Lisa K. Mundy

Susan M. Sawyer

Silja Kosola

George C. Patton



Abstract

Adults with sleep problems are at higher risk for onset of musculoskeletal pain, but the evidence is less clear for children. This prospective cohort study investigated whether children with sleep problems are at higher risk for onset of musculoskeletal pain and explored whether sex is a modifier of this association. In a prospective cohort study of Australian schoolchildren (n?=?1239, mean age 9 years), the associations between sleep problems at baseline and new onset of both musculoskeletal pain and persistent musculoskeletal pain (pain lasting >?3 months) 1 year later were investigated using logistic regression. The potential modifying effect of sex was also assessed. One-year incidence proportion for musculoskeletal pain onset is 43% and 7% for persistent musculoskeletal pain. Sleep problems were associated with musculoskeletal pain onset and persistent musculoskeletal pain onset in boys, odds ratio 2.80 (95% CI 1.39, 5.62) and OR 3.70 (1.30, 10.54), respectively, but not girls OR 0.58 (0.28, 1.19) and OR 1.43 (0.41, 4.95), respectively.Conclusions: Rates of musculoskeletal pain are high in children. Boys with sleep problems are at greater risk of onset of musculoskeletal pain, but girls do not appear to have higher risk. Consideration of sleep health may help prevent persistent musculoskeletal pain in children.What is Known:• Sleep problems are associated with the onset of musculoskeletal pain in adults.• It is not clear if the association between sleep problems and the onset of musculoskeletal pain is present also in children and if sex plays a role in this association.What is New:• This is the first large population-based study that has prospectively investigated the relationship between sleep problems and onset of musculoskeletal pain in school-aged children.• Children, especially boys with sleep problems, were at increased risk for the development of persistent musculoskeletal pain.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 24, 2020
Online Publication Date May 12, 2020
Publication Date 2020-11
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal European Journal of Pediatrics
Print ISSN 0340-6199
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 179
Issue 11
Pages 1711–1719
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03667-8
Keywords Sleep problems; Musculoskeletal pain; Risk factor; Children; CATS study
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-020-03667-8

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