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Pediatrics

Research Highlights the Importance of Sleep Quality in Children with Primary Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study conducted in mainland China has shed light on the significance of sleep quality in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE). This condition, characterized by bedwetting at night, affects a significant number of children worldwide. The research, published in the journal Sleep Medicine, aimed to evaluate the effects of desmopressin (DDAVP) and enuresis alarms on the sleep quality of children with PMNE.

The study involved 251 children from five hospitals in China, who were randomly assigned to either a DDAVP or an enuresis alarm (EA) group. The researchers found that both treatments resulted in significant improvements in sleep quality, as measured by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Specifically, the number of enuresis nights/week decreased from a median of 4 to 1.5 in the DDAVP group and from 4 to 1 in the EA group.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study emphasizes the critical role of sleep quality in the pathology of enuresis and highlights the importance of considering sleep as a key indicator of treatment efficacy for children with PMNE.
  • The findings suggest that both DDAVP and EA can be effective treatments for improving sleep quality in children with PMNE.
  • The study involved a total of 251 children (115 boys, 98 girls; mean age 9 years) from five hospitals in China.
  • The number of enuresis nights/week decreased significantly in both the DDAVP and EA groups, with 213 children included in the analysis.
  • The researchers followed up with children who showed improvement in their enuresis symptoms for an additional 24 weeks to analyze the long-term effects of the treatments.

Statistics:

  • The median number of enuresis nights/week decreased from 4 to 1.5 in the DDAVP group.
  • The median number of enuresis nights/week decreased from 4 to 1 in the EA group.
  • A total of 251 children participated in the study.
  • The study involved 115 boys and 98 girls, with a mean age of 9 years.
  • The researchers evaluated the children at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and followed up for an additional 24 weeks.

Sources:

  • Role of desmopressin and enuresis alarm in improving sleep quality in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: A multicentre prospective, randomised study in mainland China. Sleep Medicine, 2025;136:106849.
  • Yanping Zhang, Henan Joint International Paediatric Urodynamic Laboratory, Dept. of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
  • Lei Lv, Qi Li, Jing Yang, Guowei Si, Wei Lu, Xingchen Liu, Chaoming Zhou, Xu Cui, Guoxing Wu, Yibo Wen, and Jian Guo Wen.

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