Poor quality sleep impacts on quality of life in MS'ers

"As a follow-up to some comments about fatigue yesterday, this article makes the point that poor sleep hygiene is an important problem in MS."

Epub ahead of printTrojan et al. Polysomnographic measures of disturbed sleep are associated with reduced quality of life in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 2012 Jan 16. 

BACKGROUND: The relationship of objective sleep parameters with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in MS'ers has not been adequately studied.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between polysomnographic (PSG) parameters and HRQoL in MS.

METHODS: Ambulatory MS'ers without a known sleep disorder completed the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36), pain visual analog scale, and two consecutive overnight PSGs. HRQoL was assessed using SF-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS, MCS) scores. Standard objective PSG measures of sleep quality were determined. 


RESULTS: 62 MS'ers were included. PSG measures of sleep disruption including stage changes, awakenings, time in phase 1 of sleep, and apnea-hypopnea and total arousal indices were negatively associated (p<0.05) with MCS scores (lower scores indicating poorer HRQoL). PSG parameters reflective of better sleep quality including total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and time in rapid eye movement or REM sleep were positively associated with MCS scores. PSG parameters were not significantly associated with PCS scores.

CONCLUSIONS: PSG-documented sleep disruption negatively impacts, while better objective sleep quality positively impacts on the mental domain of HRQoL in MS.

"The results of this study show that poor quality sleep impacts on quality of life; it is therefore important to remember this if you feel tired all the time. A simple overnight sleep study can get to the bottom of your problems. If you have a query regarding this I suggest you ask your neurologist for advice."

Other posts of interest on this blog in relation to sleep:

31 Dec 2011
Objective: We evaluated the relationship of obstructive sleep apnea to fatigue and sleepiness in MS patients.Methods: Ambulatory MS patients without known sleep disorders and healthy controls underwent diagnostic ...
10 Dec 2011
BACKGROUND: Sleep disruption and fatigue are common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Melatonin is one of the major regulators of sleep-wake cycle. The role of melatonin in MS-related sleep disturbances and fatigue as well as ...
06 Aug 2011
"Please review the information in An Overview of Sleep Disorders on the Harvard Medical School Healthy Sleep site, which explains the commonest sleep disorders in plain English. In addition, I would strongly encouraged ...
06 Aug 2011
The main sleep disorders associated with MS include: insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, drug-induced sleep disturbances, restless legs syndrome and periodic leg movements, breathing disorders during sleep (for ...

20 Jan 2011
This paper reviews sleep disturbances in MS and it association with fatigue. In people with significant fatigue sleep hygiene should be on top of the management plan; without a good night's sleep how can you expect to feel ...

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