Sidra Medicine has expanded its paediatric sleep services, significantly reducing waiting times for sleep laboratory appointments from several months to just a few weeks, Dr Amal al-Nuaimi, senior consultant in Pediatric Pulmonology and director of the Sleep Laboratory at Sidra Medicine, has revealed.
Dr al-Nuaimi said the expansion was introduced to accommodate a growing number of children in Qatar requiring specialised diagnosis and treatment for sleep disorders.
As part of the initiative, the number of weekly sleep clinics has been increased to three, in addition to two specialised clinics each month and a weekly clinic for respiratory support devices.
The expansion brings the total number of clinics to 18 per month, serving more than 700 patients annually. Additionally, the number of rooms in the sleep laboratory has increased, enabling the facility to accommodate nearly 1,000 patients every year.
Dr al-Nuaimi explained that the Sleep Disorders Centre at Sidra Medicine is the only specialised paediatric sleep centre in Qatar dedicated to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in children. The centre provides
comprehensive assessments and individualised treatment plans tailored to each patient’s condition. Children referred to the sleep clinic first undergo a full clinical evaluation, after which specialists determine whether a sleep study is required and prioritise appointments based on case severity.
She stressed that the department is committed to conducting examinations as quickly as possible to meet the patients’ medical needs, noting that management efforts have successfully reduced waiting periods for sleep studies from months to only a few weeks.
Dr al-Nuaimi explained that paediatric sleep disorders vary widely in severity, ranging from simple snoring to severe airway obstruction during sleep.
She also noted several warning signs parents should watch for, including loud, frequent snoring; repeated awakenings due to interrupted breathing; excessive daytime sleepiness; poor concentration; declining academic performance; and increased irritability in children.
In the meantime, Dr al-Nuaimi noted that global rates of paediatric sleep disorders range between 2% and 5%, but rise dramatically to nearly 60% among children with obesity. She added that these rates are rising due to modern lifestyle patterns, a trend also evident in Qatar.
In response, Sidra Medicine has launched a specialised clinic that combines obesity management and sleep disorder treatment to ensure patients receive integrated, science-based care.
Dr al-Nuaimi explained that patients are admitted to a fully equipped sleep laboratory room for the diagnostic procedures, where specialists monitor vital indicators such as blood oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, and breathing patterns to accurately diagnose sleep conditions.
Sidra Medicine utilises advanced sleep monitoring technologies, including sophisticated polysomnography systems that record brain activity, sleep stages, eye and muscle movements, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, heart rate, and limb movements. These technologies help physicians reach precise diagnoses and develop appropriate treatment plans.
She stressed the importance of maintaining a regular sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleeping environment, following a calming bedtime routine, avoiding stimulants and heavy meals before bedtime, and limiting screen exposure for at least one hour before sleep.
She also outlined Sidra Medicine’s future plans to further advance paediatric sleep medicine, including raising public awareness about the importance of healthy sleep and its impact on growth and academic achievement, as well as educating paediatricians on the importance of early detection of sleep disorders.
Further, there is an ongoing collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation and regional specialised centres in both clinical services and research. Sidra Medicine has launched a paediatric sleep medicine training programme attracting physicians from within Qatar and abroad, supporting the centre’s development as a leading scientific and medical institution in the region.
