Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Adwoa Parker; Bryony Anne Beresford; Vicki Dawson; Heather  Elphick; Caroline Marie Fairhurst; Catherine Elizabeth Hewitt; Arabella Louise Scantlebury; Gemma Spiers; Megan Thomas; Kath Wright; Catriona Maria McDaid

doi:10.1111/dmcn.14157

Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Adwoa Parker, Bryony Anne Beresford, Vicki Dawson, Heather Elphick, Caroline Marie Fairhurst, Catherine Elizabeth Hewitt, Arabella Louise Scantlebury, Gemma Spiers, Megan Thomas, Kath Wright, Catriona Maria McDaid

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for managing non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched 16 databases, grey literature, and reference lists of included papers up to February 2017. Data were extracted and assessed for quality by two researchers (B.B., C.M., G.S., A.S., A.P.). Results: Thirteen trials were included, all evaluating oral melatonin. All except one were at high or unclear risk of bias. There was a statistically significant increase in diary-reported total sleep time for melatonin compared with placebo (pooled mean difference 29.6min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9–52.4, p=0.01). Statistical heterogeneity was high (97%). For the single RCT with low risk of bias, the unadjusted mean difference in total sleep time was 13.2 minutes (95% CI −13.3 to 39.7) favouring melatonin, while the mean difference adjusted for baseline total sleep time was statistically significant (22.4min, 95% CI 0.5–44.3, p=0.04). Adverse event profile suggested that melatonin was well-tolerated. Interpretation: There is a paucity of evidence on managing sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities, and it is mostly of limited scope and poor quality. There is evidence of the benefit and safety of melatonin compared with placebo, although the extent of this benefit is unclear. What this paper adds: Melatonin for the management of non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. The extent of benefit and which children might benefit most from melatonin use is uncertain. Benefit may be greatest in those with autism spectrum disorder; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	880-890
Number of pages	11
Journal	Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Volume	61
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14157
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2019

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dmcn.14157
©2019 The Authors.
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Parker, A., Beresford, B. A., Dawson, V., Elphick, H., Fairhurst, C. M., Hewitt, C. E., Scantlebury, A. L., Spiers, G., Thomas, M., Wright, K., & McDaid, C. M. (2019). Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 61(8), 880-890. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14157

@article{80e8d93ea31a423e8395994ae9f04c23,

title = "Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses",

abstract = "Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for managing non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched 16 databases, grey literature, and reference lists of included papers up to February 2017. Data were extracted and assessed for quality by two researchers (B.B., C.M., G.S., A.S., A.P.). Results: Thirteen trials were included, all evaluating oral melatonin. All except one were at high or unclear risk of bias. There was a statistically significant increase in diary-reported total sleep time for melatonin compared with placebo (pooled mean difference 29.6min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9–52.4, p=0.01). Statistical heterogeneity was high (97%). For the single RCT with low risk of bias, the unadjusted mean difference in total sleep time was 13.2 minutes (95% CI −13.3 to 39.7) favouring melatonin, while the mean difference adjusted for baseline total sleep time was statistically significant (22.4min, 95% CI 0.5–44.3, p=0.04). Adverse event profile suggested that melatonin was well-tolerated. Interpretation: There is a paucity of evidence on managing sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities, and it is mostly of limited scope and poor quality. There is evidence of the benefit and safety of melatonin compared with placebo, although the extent of this benefit is unclear. What this paper adds: Melatonin for the management of non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. The extent of benefit and which children might benefit most from melatonin use is uncertain. Benefit may be greatest in those with autism spectrum disorder; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution.",

author = "Adwoa Parker and Beresford, {Bryony Anne} and Vicki Dawson and Heather Elphick and Fairhurst, {Caroline Marie} and Hewitt, {Catherine Elizabeth} and Scantlebury, {Arabella Louise} and Gemma Spiers and Megan Thomas and Kath Wright and McDaid, {Catriona Maria}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2019 The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1111/dmcn.14157",

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Parker, A , Beresford, BA, Dawson, V, Elphick, H, Fairhurst, CM , Hewitt, CE , Scantlebury, AL, Spiers, G, Thomas, M, Wright, K & McDaid, CM 2019, 'Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses', Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, vol. 61, no. 8, pp. 880-890. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14157

TY - JOUR

T1 - Oral Melatonin for Non-Respiratory Sleep Disturbance in Children with Neurodisabilities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

AU - Parker, Adwoa

AU - Beresford, Bryony Anne

AU - Dawson, Vicki

AU - Elphick, Heather

AU - Fairhurst, Caroline Marie

AU - Hewitt, Catherine Elizabeth

AU - Scantlebury, Arabella Louise

AU - Spiers, Gemma

AU - Thomas, Megan

AU - Wright, Kath

AU - McDaid, Catriona Maria

PY - 2019/2/1

Y1 - 2019/2/1

N2 - Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for managing non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched 16 databases, grey literature, and reference lists of included papers up to February 2017. Data were extracted and assessed for quality by two researchers (B.B., C.M., G.S., A.S., A.P.). Results: Thirteen trials were included, all evaluating oral melatonin. All except one were at high or unclear risk of bias. There was a statistically significant increase in diary-reported total sleep time for melatonin compared with placebo (pooled mean difference 29.6min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9–52.4, p=0.01). Statistical heterogeneity was high (97%). For the single RCT with low risk of bias, the unadjusted mean difference in total sleep time was 13.2 minutes (95% CI −13.3 to 39.7) favouring melatonin, while the mean difference adjusted for baseline total sleep time was statistically significant (22.4min, 95% CI 0.5–44.3, p=0.04). Adverse event profile suggested that melatonin was well-tolerated. Interpretation: There is a paucity of evidence on managing sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities, and it is mostly of limited scope and poor quality. There is evidence of the benefit and safety of melatonin compared with placebo, although the extent of this benefit is unclear. What this paper adds: Melatonin for the management of non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. The extent of benefit and which children might benefit most from melatonin use is uncertain. Benefit may be greatest in those with autism spectrum disorder; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution.

AB - Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for managing non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched 16 databases, grey literature, and reference lists of included papers up to February 2017. Data were extracted and assessed for quality by two researchers (B.B., C.M., G.S., A.S., A.P.). Results: Thirteen trials were included, all evaluating oral melatonin. All except one were at high or unclear risk of bias. There was a statistically significant increase in diary-reported total sleep time for melatonin compared with placebo (pooled mean difference 29.6min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9–52.4, p=0.01). Statistical heterogeneity was high (97%). For the single RCT with low risk of bias, the unadjusted mean difference in total sleep time was 13.2 minutes (95% CI −13.3 to 39.7) favouring melatonin, while the mean difference adjusted for baseline total sleep time was statistically significant (22.4min, 95% CI 0.5–44.3, p=0.04). Adverse event profile suggested that melatonin was well-tolerated. Interpretation: There is a paucity of evidence on managing sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities, and it is mostly of limited scope and poor quality. There is evidence of the benefit and safety of melatonin compared with placebo, although the extent of this benefit is unclear. What this paper adds: Melatonin for the management of non-respiratory sleep disturbances in children with neurodisabilities was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. The extent of benefit and which children might benefit most from melatonin use is uncertain. Benefit may be greatest in those with autism spectrum disorder; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution.

U2 - 10.1111/dmcn.14157

DO - 10.1111/dmcn.14157

M3 - Review article

C2 - 30710339

SN - 0012-1622

VL - 61

SP - 880

EP - 890

JO - Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

JF - Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

IS - 8

ER -