Sleep disorders in Taiwanese children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

56.8% of children with ADHD had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) greater than 1 event per hour.

• Fifty children with ADHD (56.8%) had an AHI >1 event h(-1), and 19.3% had an AHI >5 event h(-1).
• Ten point two percent of children with ADHD exhibited a periodic limb movement index (PLMI) >5 events h(-1).
• The control group had only one child with an AHI >1 and none with a PLMI >5.
• Children with ADHD and sleep disorders had significantly worse response times on attention tests compared to those without sleep disorders.
• Significant differences in hyperactivity were observed between ADHD children with and without sleep disorders.
• Diagnostic criteria for ADHD do not distinguish between children with or without sleep disorders, suggesting a need for sleep disorder evaluation before ADHD treatment.

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