The impact on executive function performance of sleep-related disorders in asthmatic children has been scarcely studied in community settings. The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in children with intermittent or mild persistent asthma in primary care settings, and to examine possible correlations with measures of executive function.
We performed a case-control study including 76 children with asthma (intermittent or mild persistent), and 85 healthy controls. The parents of both patients and controls completed the Pediatric Seep Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire.
We did not find any statistically significant differences regarding the scales of PSQ. Additionally, there were no statistical differences between asthmatic children and controls regarding the scales of the BRIEF questionnaire. In both asthmatic children and controls the score of the scale of obstructive sleep related breathing disorder was significantly correlated with the T scores of the two composite scales (BRI and MI) and the Global Executive Composite (GEC).
In children with intermittent or mild persistent asthma under the care of private general paediatricians there were no statistically significant differences regarding subjective SBD compared to healthy controls. Also there were no statistical differences between asthmatic children and controls regarding behavioral correlates of executive function during everyday life.

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