Patient-reported outcomes for measuring sleep disturbance in pediatric atopic dermatitis: Cross-sectional study of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pediatric sleep measures and actigraphy.

BACKGROUND

Most children with atopic dermatitis (AD) experience sleep disturbance, but reliable and valid assessment tools are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To test the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep measures in pediatric AD and to develop an algorithm to screen, assess, and intervene to reduce sleep disturbance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with children with AD ages 5 to 17 years and 1 parent (n = 61), who completed sleep, itch, and AD-specific questionnaires; clinicians assessed disease severity. All children wore actigraphy watches for a 1-week objective sleep assessment.

RESULTS

PROMIS sleep disturbance parent proxy reliability was high (Cronbach α = 0.90) and was differentiated among Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM)-determined disease severity groups (mean ± standard deviation in mild vs moderate vs severe was 55.7 ± 7.5 vs 59.8 ± 10.8 vs 67.1 ± 9.5; P < .01). Sleep disturbance correlated with itch (numeric rating scale, r = 0.48), PROMIS sleep-related impairment (r = 0.57), and worsened quality of life (Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, r = 0.58), with all P values less than .01. Positive report on the POEM sleep disturbance question has high sensitivity (95%) for PROMIS parent proxy-reported sleep disturbance (T-score ≥ 60). An algorithm for screening and intervening on sleep disturbance was proposed.

LIMITATIONS

This was a local sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disturbance in pediatric AD should be screened using the POEM sleep question, with further assessment using the PROMIS sleep disturbance measure or objective sleep monitoring if needed.