Abstract Mkid 152

No previous studies have assessed the relationship between sleep problems/habits and school performance in Saudi school children. Therefore, we surveyed parents of a sample of elementary school children in Riyadh to assess the relation between sleep problems/habits and school performance in this age group. The study was conducted in Riyadh city among elementary school children (boys and girls) during springtime of the year 1999. Questionnaires were distributed by trained medical students according to the sampling process and parents were asked to score each item that describes the child behavior within the past 6 months. School performance was assessed using the latest monthly evaluation report provided by the school. Students’ performance was stratified as “excellent students” (≥85%) or “average students” (<85%). Completed questionnaires were returned from the households of 1012 students. Boys were 511 (50.5%) and girls 501 (49.5%). The mean age was 9.5±1.9 years ranging from 5 to 13 years. Six hundred and forty nine students (64.1%) of students had “excellent” performance and 363 students (35.9%) had “average” performance. School performance was significantly associated with children’s age, gender, father’s educational level, and mother’s educational level. It was evident that the presence of sleep problems, poor sleep habits, or shortened total sleep time was affecting the students’ school performance. Sleep problems and habits may negatively affect school performance. Schools, parents, and pediatricians need to take an active role to consider sleep and sleep disorders in the context of school performance and daytime functioning.