Cortisol levels and sleep patterns in infants with orofacial clefts undergoing surgery

Figures & data

Figure 1 Study overview.

Note: X = assessment.
Abbreviation: OFC, orofacial cleft.

Table 1 Descriptive and inferential overview of infants’ cortisol values separately for different time points and for groups (orofacial cleft [OFC] vs controls)

	Cortisol values (nmol/L)				Statistics			OFC group only
	5 days before surgery (1) M (SD)	Day of surgery (2) M (SD)	Third day postsurgery (3) M (SD)	5 days after surgery (4) M (SD)	Factor group	Factor time	Time × group interaction	Factor time	Post hoc analyses
OFC N=27	24.05 (19.59)	69.19 (12.96)	54.02 (19.85)	11.16 (9.65)	F=1.00	F=0.98	F=1.02	9.45*	1<2=3<4, 1=4a
Controls (N=30)	19.56 (8.49)			9.79 (13.86)

Notes: Degrees of freedom (df) are always (1, 85)

* P<0.001.

a For the OFC group, cortisol values significantly increased the day of surgery, remained stable until the third day of surgery, and decreased significantly until the fifth day after surgery. Cortisol values did not differ between 5 days before and 5 days after surgery.

Abbreviations: M, median; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Descriptive and inferential overview of infants’ sleep values separately for different time points and for groups (orofacial cleft [OFC] vs controls)

	Night sleep (h)				Statistics			OFC group only
	5 days before surgery (1) M (SD)	Day of surgery (2) M (SD)	Third day postsurgery (3) M (SD)	5 days after surgery (4) M (SD)	Factor group	Factor time	Time × group interaction	Factor time	Post hoc analyses
OFC (N=27)	10.04 (3.00)	6.89 (2.65)	12.52 (5.46)	12.89 (2.65)	F=0.59	F=1.56	F=0.89	4.06*	1<2<3=4, 1=4a
Controls (N=30)	11.76 (2.59)			12.00 (1.26)

Notes: Degrees of freedom (df) are always (1, 85)

* P<0.001.

a For the OFC group, night sleep time significantly decreased the day of surgery, increased again until the third day of surgery, and remained stable until the fifth day after surgery. Night sleep time did not differ between 5 days before and 5 days after surgery.

Abbreviations: M, median; SD, standard deviation.