Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often have unrecognized sleep abnormalities, more frequently than the general population. Mainly respiratory disorders, insomnia, REM sleep disorders, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome are reported. Sleep-related disorders can affect the quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with MS.
Analyze sleep-related disorders in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and their possible impact on QOL.
24 patients with RRMS were evaluated between March 1, 2018 and February 28, 2020.
Each patient underwent: Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life 54 (MSQOL-54), Insomnia Severity Index, STOP-BANG, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and nocturnal polysomnography with oxygen saturation.
The data was analyzed using the Minitab® 15.1.20.0 package.
24 patients were included; 75% female; mean age 36.3 years, (± 9); with a mean of 1.96 (± 0.8) years after diagnosis.
58% presented some alteration in sleep patterns, predominating awakenings and micro-awakenings fragmentation.
Analyzing patients QOL according to sleep disorders, those who presented some structure alteration obtained a lower QOL scale score (mean 77.2 [± 12.76] in patients with normal structure and mean 66.75 [± 15.34] in those with awakenings and micro-awakenings structure fragmented).
Patients with clinical insomnia had a lower QOL scale score, highlighting an inverse relationship between the QOL and the severity of the insomnia. Patients without clinically significant insomnia presented a QOL scale mean 76.93 (± 14.08), while in patients with clinical insomnia of moderate severity the mean was 57.75 (± 16.38).
Regarding the quality of sleep, categorizing this variable into normal and poor sleepers, 79% were in the second group. Analyzing the QOL according to this variable, those who presented an adequate quality of sleep, showed better QOL.
Sleep-related disorders are a common problem among people with MS. These disorders can be serious enough to interfere with physical, social, emotional and mental functioning for those who suffer from them, generating a significant impact on people's QOL.
Our results demonstrate the sleep abnormalities in RRMS patients, supporting the need and importance of exploring their presence in initial evaluation.
The development of preventive strategies and interventions that reduce sleep alterations could improve QOL in patient with RRMS.