Sleep disturbance in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its relation to disease parameters

Aim of the workTo assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the correlation between sleep disturbance and some disease parameters.Patients and MethodsThe Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to investigate the sleeping habits of 30 female patients with SLE and of 30 healthy age and sex-matched controls. Depressed mood was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D), functional disability was assessed with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and pain severity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Disease activity was measured using the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Disease severity and cumulative damage were measured using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage (SLICC/ACR DI).ResultsThe mean global scores for the PSQI were significantly different between cases and controls (8.47 ± 3.53 versus 5.10 ± 3.66, p = 0.000) indicating poor sleep quality for these patients compared to healthy controls, and 76.7% (23 patients) were poor sleepers. Sleep disturbances were correlated with disease duration (p = 0.001), functional disability (p = 0.001), SLEDAI (p = 0.000), pain severity (p = 0.002), organ damage (p = 0.000) and depressed mood (p = 0.000). However, with multivariate linear regression analysis SLEDAI and SLICC/ACR were the only significant predictors associated with higher level of PSQI.ConclusionSleep disturbances are prevalent among female SLE patients, with multiple factors contributing to it, but disease activity and cumulative disease damage were the only predictors of sleep quality. Assessment and management of sleep disturbances should be part of the routine care of SLE patients.