Sleep disturbance and injury risk in young children.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbance and both injury rates and injury-prone behaviors in preschool-age and early school-age children, using cross-sectional surveys of sleep disturbance (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire) and injury-related behaviors (Injury Behavior Checklist), and chart review of injuries. Participants were 71 patients enrolled in a pediatric clinic in a children's teaching hospital, ages 3 through 7 years, coming either for well-child care in a pediatric primary care clinic or for pediatric emergency room treatment of minor injuries. Results suggest that children with more frequent injuries had significantly more sleep problems overall, particularly anxiety around sleep, than did children with low injury rates. Children with more parent-reported injury-prone behaviors also had significantly more sleep disturbance. Daytime sleepiness-related items did not differ between injury history or injury behavior groups. Results of this study support an increased prevalence of sleep disturbances in young children with higher injury rates and more injury-prone behavior. Sleep disturbance may be a potential risk factor for increased injuries in this age group.