Impact of Sleep Duration on Immune Balance in Urban Children With Asthma
Rhode Island Hospital
Summary
Urban children with asthma are at high risk for short sleep, due to an environment that jeopardizes both sleep and asthma management. Further, urban children with asthma suffer from altered immune balance, a key biological process contributing to individual differences in asthma morbidity and sleep health. In the proposed research, the researchers will examine the effects of shortened and recovery sleep on immune balance and associated changes in lung function in urban children with allergic asthma through an experimental design.
Description
Urban children with asthma are at high risk for short sleep, due to an environment that jeopardizes sleep and asthma management. Further, this group suffers from altered immune balance, a key biological process contributing to individual differences in asthma morbidity and sleep health. Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder driven primarily by disturbed T helper 1 (Th1)/ 2 (Th2) cytokine balance marked by Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and/or IL-13) predominance. Experimental findings in healthy adults show that shortened sleep increases inflammatory cytokine (e.g., IL-6) and certain Th…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 7–11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion: * Children 7-11 years old * Has physician-diagnosed asthma, per parent and pediatrician report * Meets criteria for current persistent asthma with a current prescription for an asthma controller medicine * Obtains 9.0-11.0 h of sleep per 24 h day in the past month * Has a positive allergy skin test performed at the clinic visit * Resides and attend school in one of the targeted urban areas (Rhode Island: East Providence, North Providence, Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Woonsocket, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Lincoln, Johnston. Massachusetts: Attleboro, North Attleboro, Fall River. *…
Interventions
- BehavioralShortened Sleep
In this experimental condition, children go to bed 90 minutes later than their typical bedtime during Week 2 of the 4-week protocol.
- BehavioralStabilized sleep
In this control condition, children go to bed at their usual time throughout the 4-week protocol.
Location
- Rhode Island HospitalProvidence, Rhode Island