Impact of Sleep Duration on Immune Balance in Urban Children With Asthma
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.
• 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.
• Has a primary caregiver who speaks English