Association between children's sleep patterns and hemoglobin levels

QIAO Huiping; JIA Wanru; LI Hua; HE Li; WANG Jiying; QI Mei; PAN Hong; LEI Kangmin; LIU Pingding; ZHANG Taihua; WANG Hong; CHEN Yanni

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1056

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1) : 59-64. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1056

Growth & Development

Association between children's sleep patterns and hemoglobin levels

QIAO Huiping¹, JIA Wanru², LI Hua², HE Li³, WANG Jiying⁴, QI Mei⁵, PAN Hong⁶, LEI Kangmin⁷, LIU Pingding⁸, ZHANG Taihua⁹, WANG Hong¹⁰, CHEN Yanni¹¹

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the association of daily sleep duration and night-time awakenings over the preceding week with peripheral hemoglobin (Hb) levels in children aged 0 - 6 years in Northwestern China, in order to provide new evidence for anemia prevention and child health management. Methods From January 2021 to June 2023, this cross-sectional study enrolled 3 812 children aged 0 - 6 years from four provinces (Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai). Basic information about the children and their sleep patterns over the preceding week (including daily sleep duration and number of night-time awakenings) were collected via a standardised questionnaire,alongside testing of peripheral blood haemoglobin levels. The Dallman method was employed to correct for the effect of altitude on haemoglobin values. Univariate analysis and multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep parameters and Hb levels. Results After adjusting for confounders, multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that frequent night-time awakenings (≥2 times) were significantly associated with lower Hb levels compared to no awakenings (β=-0.074, P<0.001). This association remained stable across gender and age subgroups. Stratified analysis by season showed that shorter sleep duration (<10 hours) in summer (β=-0.296, P<0.001) and frequent night-time awakenings (≥2 times) in winter (β=-0.129, P<0.001) were both significantly associated with lower Hb levels. Conclusions Poor sleep continuity, particularly frequent night-time awakenings (≥2 times), is significantly associated with lower Hb levels among children aged 0 - 6 in Northwestern China. Improving the continuity of children's sleep may help maintain normal haemoglobin levels, offering a new perspective for the prevention and control of childhood anaemia.

Key words

fragmented sleep / haemoglobin / northwestern region / health management / cross-sectional study / children

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QIAO Huiping, JIA Wanru, LI Hua, HE Li, WANG Jiying, QI Mei, PAN Hong, LEI Kangmin, LIU Pingding, ZHANG Taihua, WANG Hong, CHEN Yanni. Association between children's sleep patterns and hemoglobin levels[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(1): 59-64 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1056

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