The relationship of beta blocker treatment with sleep disturbances and  working memory among children with infantile hemangiomas

Beta blocker administration is one of the most common treatment methods for the vascular tumours infantile haemangiomas (IHs). Previous research has attributed possible side-effects to beta blockers, which include sleep disturbances and memory decline. Furthermore, research has found a link between sleep disturbances and memory decline. Thus, the present study aimed to test for possible long-term side-effects of beta blockers atenolol and propranolol. The study focused on children between ages 7-11 with IHs who were treated with beta blockers within their first year of life. The relationship between sleep disturbances and working memory among these children was analyzed. Furthermore, the differences between the study sample and population norms were analyzed regarding sleep disturbances and working memory performance. Lastly, differences between atenolol and propranolol on these measures were explored. The main findings showed a significant correlation between a high likelihood of...Show moreBeta blocker administration is one of the most common treatment methods for the vascular tumours infantile haemangiomas (IHs). Previous research has attributed possible side-effects to beta blockers, which include sleep disturbances and memory decline. Furthermore, research has found a link between sleep disturbances and memory decline. Thus, the present study aimed to test for possible long-term side-effects of beta blockers atenolol and propranolol. The study focused on children between ages 7-11 with IHs who were treated with beta blockers within their first year of life. The relationship between sleep disturbances and working memory among these children was analyzed. Furthermore, the differences between the study sample and population norms were analyzed regarding sleep disturbances and working memory performance. Lastly, differences between atenolol and propranolol on these measures were explored. The main findings showed a significant correlation between a high likelihood of sleep disturbances and a low working memory performance. In addition, the beta blocker sample showed a higher likelihood of sleep disturbances when compared to population norms. However, no lower working memory performance was detected in this comparison. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between propranolol and atenolol on neither sleep disturbances nor working memory performance. The main conclusion of this study points towards the possible negative relationship of beta blocker treatment with long-term sleep disturbances, which have a negative correlation with working memory performance. Possible directions for future research are discussed.Show less

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The relationship of beta blocker treatment with sleep disturbances and working memory among children with infantile hemangiomas