A pilot study of the association between sleep disturbance in children with liver transplants and parent and family health-related quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between sleep disturbance in children with liver transplants and parent and family health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: 47 parents of children with liver transplants completed measures of child sleep and family HRQOL. Relationships between sleep and HRQOL and differences in HRQOL between groups with scores above and below the cutoff on a pediatric sleep measure were examined.

Results: Parents endorsed higher rates of sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) and restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements during sleep (RLS/PLMS) and lower HRQOL compared with published data. Significant correlations were found between SRBD and RLS/PLMS and HRQOL, and significant group differences in HRQOL were found between groups above and below the cutoff for behavior problems and RLS/PLMS.

Conclusions: There are significant relationships between symptoms of SRBD and RLS/PLMS in children with liver transplants and family HRQOL. Behavior problems may account for these strong relationships.