An increased awareness of sleep disorders in the pediatric population has led to more frequent diagnoses, particularly of diseases of hypersomnia and sleep-disordered breathing. Additionally, advances in care have extended the lifespan of patients with neuromuscular disorders. As a result, more pediatric patients with these disorders are transitioning to adult sleep clinics—a complicated process for all involved.

During a CHEST 2024 session, From Pediatrics to Adulthood: Transitioning Your Pediatric Sleep Patients, experts will identify challenges and barriers associated with the shift and discuss best practices for transitioning patients with specific sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, neuromuscular disease, and hypersomnia. The session will take place on Sunday, October 6, at 2:45 pm ET, in Room 205C of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The transition of pediatric patients to the adult clinic is an under-recognized area, said Session Chair, Mariam Louis, MD, FCCP, Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida. The pediatric and adult clinical realms are quite different in terms of medical resources, accessibility, and expectations, Dr. Louis said, and important elements of patient care can fall through the cracks during the transition.

“It’s, therefore, important for the attendees to be aware that the transition is not an on-and-off switch,” she said. “There’s a bidirectional process that occurs and must include the patients, their caregivers, and, of course, the provider.”

Dr. Louis will be joined by a panel of sleep experts featuring Maninder Kalra, MD, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Sherri Katz, MD, FCCP, of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; and Caroline Okorie, MD, MPH, of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.

Overall, the goal of the session is to increase awareness of these transitions and help attendees prepare their practices to meet the needs of patients and their families as care moves from the pediatric to the adult sleep clinic.

“Hopefully, this session will empower providers and physicians to better help their patients and provide more comprehensive care and management,” Dr. Louis said.