Sleep quality in young adults with very low birth weight--the Helsinki study of very low birth weight adults.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,500 g) and quality and amount of sleep in young adults.

METHODS: We compared 89 VLBW and 78 term-born 19- to 26-year-old adults, by actigraphy and the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire.

RESULTS: There were no group differences in sleep quality or amount (p's >.15), although VLBW adults went to bed on average 36 min earlier (95% confidence interval 6-66 min). Shorter gestational age was related to longer sleep latency both within VLBW (standardized regression coefficient beta = -.36, p =.040) and term-born adults (beta = -.25, p =.029).

CONCLUSION: Adults with VLBW had similar quality and amount of sleep as those born at term, although VLBW adults went to bed earlier, suggesting an advanced sleep phase. Within each group, a lower gestational age was related to a longer sleep onset.