The Association of Sleep Quality, Sociodemographic, and Disease‐Related Factors in Youth Living With Sickle Cell Disease

Background Sleep is essential for youth's health and development, but those living with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at higher risk of poor sleep. This study aimed to explore the relationship between sleep quality and disease‐related, sociodemographic, and socioeconomic status (SES) factors. Procedure Participants were selected from a retrospective clinical database of youth with SCD; 144 underwent polysomnography and 160 completed sleep questionnaires. Patient data were extracted from medical records, and logistic regression models were used to examine the risk of poor sleep. Results Emergency department visits for pain increased the odds of high subjective sleep disturbance (odds ratio = 1.41, p = 0.007). For objective sleep parameters, higher fetal hemoglobin ( p = 0.042) and less severe SCD genotype ( p = 0.002) were linked to improved oxygen saturation. The apnea‐hypopnea index decreased with age ( p = 0.032) but increased with higher BMI ( p = 0.003). REM AHI also rose with BMI ( p = 0.044). Youth from less disadvantaged SES had fewer spontaneous arousals ( p = 0.004), while respiratory arousals increased with BMI ( p = 0.025). Disease‐related, sociodemographic, and SES factors did not significantly predict subjective sleep impairments, time under 90% SpO 2 , or time above 50% carbon dioxide. Conclusions This study found that emergency department visits for pain predicted subjective sleep disturbances. Objective sleep quality was influenced by BMI, age, SCD genotype, fetal hemoglobin level, which reflects treatment adherence with hydroxyurea, and SES factors, impacting oxygen saturation and nighttime arousals. These results highlight the need for sleep interventions in youth with SCD.