European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE EFFECT OF SECOND HAND SMOKE EXPOSURE ON SLEEP PATTERN IN LEBANESE CHILDREN. AN INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Omar Fakhreddine, PGY1, Bilal Chamaa, PGY2, Joseph Saber, PGY2, Amal Naous, MD, Sirin Mneimneh, MD, Imad Chokr, MD and Bassem Abou Merhi, MD*

ABSTRACT

Background: Exposure to second hand smoke is one of the most commonly encountered health problems in the pediatric age group. Information concerning the correlation between second hand smoke exposure and sleep patterns among children is limited. Knowing that sleep is a very important vital physiologic function in children and its disturbance is linked to severe adverse effects, this study mainly aimed to evaluate the correlation between second hand smoke exposure and sleep disturbances in Lebanese children. Methods: We conducted an observational study in 400 kids, divided in two equal groups: non-exposed to smoking, or having smoking parents or relatives. A questionnaire targeting smoking exposure and socio-demographic information, as well as Child’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire were filled by medical students in interview based sessions. Results: Waterpipe was the most frequent (20.1%) smoking exposure. Half (53.9%) of our respondents never smoked in the presence of the child, and 37% were aware of the smoking effects on the child. A Lebanese kid spends in mean 10.23 hours a day asleep. Smoking in the presence of the child (P = 0.001), smoking type (P < 0.001), the educational level of the kid’s parents (both mother P = 0.006, and father P < 0.001), as well as child birth term (P = 0.031), the presence of other nearby smoking sources (P = 0.007), and the prenatal smoking exposure status (P < 0.001) significantly affect the sleep patterns of the children. Moreover, the educational level of the mother (P = 0.004) and the father (P = 0.031), as well as the prenatal smoking exposure (P = 0.043) significantly affect the kids’ total sleeping hours. Conclusion: The Educational level and prenatal smoking exposure were significantly associated with disturbance in the sleep duration of the Lebanese children and this study contributes in raising the family awareness about the potential harm of second hand smoke and its impact on possible sleep disorders in children.

Keywords: Second hand smoke exposure (SHS), sleep pattern.