Evelyn Constantin

My research program focuses on sleep in children. I study the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on cardiometabolic risk, neurocognitive deficits and quality of life, as well as the impact of treatment for sleep disorders on specific health outcomes and the promotion of healthy sleep habits. I have developed a research program with interdisciplinary collaborations to explore sleep issues in children with chronic conditions, including neurodevelopmental disabilities and genetic or metabolic conditions. One current focus is the evaluation of sleep issues in children with cerebral palsy, an understudied population.

One of the few clinician-scientists in pediatric sleep medicine in Canada trained in epidemiology, I have established a large longitudinal research database for our pediatric sleep laboratory – the only such cohort in the country. Our studies completed to date using this unique longitudinal cohort confirm its value as a springboard for future studies on obstructive sleep apnea and its treatment in children.

• Effect of obstructive sleep apnea on cardiometabolic risk and neurocognitive deficits;
• Obstructive sleep apnea and quality of life;
• Impact of treatment for sleep disorders in obese children to improve insulin resistance;
• Sleep interventions for children with cerebral palsy.

Child, obstructive sleep apnea, adenotonsillectomy, treatment outcomes, diagnostic testing, obesity, insulin resistance, quality of life, cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental disabilities, healthy sleep habits

Constantin E. Good as ‘Gold’? Portable sleep study devices for sleep disordered breathing in children. Canadian Respiratory Journal 21(1):29-30, 2014 Jan-Feb. [Invited Editorial]

Horwood L, Nguyen L, Brown K, Paci P, Constantin E. African-American Ethnicity as a Risk Factor for Respiratory Complications Following Adenotonsillectomy. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 139(2):147-52, 2013 Feb 1.

Williams K, Thomson D, Seto I, Contopoulos-Ioannidis DG, Ioannidis JPA, Curtis S, Constantin E, Batmanabane G, Hartling L, Klassen T. Standards for child health trial design, conduct and reporting. STANDARD 6: Age Groups for pediatric trials. Pediatrics 129( Supplement 3), S153 -S160, 2012 Jun.

Simard-Tremblay E, Constantin E, Gruber R, Brouillette RT,  Shevell M. Sleep in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Review. J Child Neurol. 26(10):1303-10, 2011.

Constantin E, Tewfik T, Brouillette RT.  Can the OSA-18 Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Detect Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children? Pediatrics 125:e162-e168, 2010.