Health consequences and daily life modifications in children and adolescents with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic - a systematic review : Running Title: Covid-19 Pandemic in Children/Adolescents with Epilepsy

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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep quality in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We synthesise the literature on the potential influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep quality in children and adolescents. The search identified studies that examined the relationship between sleep quality and disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. It began in May 2021 and has had two updates with the last in January 2022. The databases used were LILACS, PubMed, and EMBASE. Random effects models were performed to explore heterogeneity between studies. Data were presented as continuous variables (mean value and standard deviation) to perform a meta-analysis. Twenty-nine studies from 16 countries were identified: Nine had children and eight had adolescents. The overall quality of the studies ranged from high (27.6%) to medium (65.5%) and low (6.9%). Eight studies were eligible for meta-analysis. There was an increase in sleep duration during the pandemic when compared with the previous period 0.33 (95%CI -0.07; 0.60) (p < 0.001) and late bedtime 0.78 (95%CI -0.33; 1.22) (p < 0.001). A trend toward reduced sleep efficiency was also detected 0.54 (95%CI -0.75; -0.33) p = 0.20. Parents' reports of increased use of screen media/electronic devices were associated with worse sleep quality. The results suggest an influence of the pandemic on sleep characteristics such as increased sleep duration, late bedtimes, and poor sleep quality. These alterations were related to changes in family routines during this period.

The Influence of Parental Sleep and Experiences Related to COVID-19 on Sleep in Children and Adolescents between 2020 and 2021 in Brazil.

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of parental sleep and experiences related to COVID-19 on sleep changes in children and adolescents in the period between 2020 and 2021 in Brazil and further compare the sleep of adults with and without children. This is a longitudinal web-survey study. Participants were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding sleep characteristics, mental health issues, and work/lifestyle modifications in two waves of the pandemic (April-July 2020 and 2021). A total of 1172 adults answered both questionnaires, and 281 were dyads (parent-child/adolescent). Parent and non-parent adult responders had similar sociodemographic data, with a predominance of the female sex and self-declared white skin color prevailing along with higher levels of education in both groups. The prevalence of sleep problems in adults varied from 20.6% to 30.2% in the parent group and from 16.9% to 30.1% in non-parents. The prevalence of sleep problems in children and adolescents raised from 2020 to 2021 (respectively, 48% and 49.5%) but differences were not statistically significant. The multivariate logistic model showed in both years that changes in children's/adolescents' sleep was related to parents working at home, infected family/friends, time of exposure to COVID-19, and daytime sleep dysfunction. Our data showed that parental sleep and experiences related to COVID-19 influenced sleep changes in children and adolescents. Parents had a significant difference in daytime sleepiness compared to the group without children.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Autism Spectrum Disorder, Consequences to Children and Adolescents - a Systematic Review.

In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children/adolescents with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The protocol was registered on PROSPERO CRD42021255848. Articles were selected from PubMed, Embase, and LILACS according to these characteristics: patients from zero to 18 years old, exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, impact on social communication/interaction and restricted/repetitive behavior domains. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess methodological quality and the risk of bias. Of the 351 articles initially identified, 26 were finally included with information on 8,610 patients. Although the studies were heterogeneous, they indicated that the pandemic-related issues experienced by patients with ASD were mostly manifested in their behavior and sleep patterns. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40489-022-00344-4.

Sleep quality among parents and their children during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sleep characteristics of parents and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic and predictors for sleep disturbances. METHODS: Cross-sectional web-based study using an online survey made available for dyads of parents and their children during the 7th week of quarantine in southern Brazil. Parents' and adolescents' sleep were characterized using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. For children aged 0-3 years parents completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, for those aged 4-12 years the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Parents also informed, subjectively, their perception about sleep habits during social distancing. Multiple regression was run to predict sleep disturbances in adults using independent variables: sex, income, education, children age, and children with sleep disturbances. RESULTS: Data from 577 dyads showed sleep alterations in 69,8% of adults, in 58,6% of children aged 0-3 years, 33,9% in the 4-12 years range (with a predominance of disorders of initiating or maintaining sleep), and 56,6% in adolescents. Sex (female) and children with sleep disturbances were significant predictors of a sleep problem in parents (p < 0.005). Subjective perception revealed complaints related to emotional concerns such as anxiety and fear in adults and due to alterations in routine in children and adolescents. CONCLUSION: The present study's data showed an increased rate of sleep problems among families during quarantine both measured by validated instruments and also based on personal perception.

Social and environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review the literature, summarizing the existing evidence on the effects of the pandemic on children, adolescents and parents, with an emphasis on the psychological, emotional, and sleep quality consequences. SOURCE OF DATA: Empirical studies identified in the following databases: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science, and preprint servers. SYNTHESIS OF DATA: The findings point to a wide range of consequences for children and adolescents resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which mainly includes an increase in depressive mood symptoms. There is also an increase in anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation, as well as potential delays in language and motor development resulting from deprivation of social interaction and the closing of schools. These effects are more severe due to previous neuropsychiatric conditions. For parents, there is an increase in anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic symptoms, which are more accentuated in those who suffered socioeconomic damage due to the pandemic. There was an important increase in situations of violence towards children by parents and caregivers during the pandemic. Also, changes in routine and fear of the pandemic have negatively impacted sleep quality, globally. CONCLUSIONS: It is noteworthy that most studies published to date used a cross-sectional design and applied online screening questionnaires. The few studies with a longitudinal design suggest that these changes may have been transitory and more prevalent at the beginning of the pandemic.