Sleep disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis in China

Background Poor sleep is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study assessed the prevalence of poor sleep and investigated the potential impact factors that influence sleep quality of patients with MS. Methods A cross-sectional self-report survey of 231 patients with MS and 265 sex- and age-matched controls was conducted. Good sleepers and poor sleepers were separated by their global score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sociodemographic parameters, such as age, gender, and marital status, and clinical-demographic parameters, such as excessive daytime sleepiness (measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale), snoring, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, drugs, pain, depression, fatigue, and quality of life, were registered. Clinical and sociodemographic parameters were compared between patients with MS and controls and between good and poor sleepers among patients with MS. Results The prevalence of poor sleep in patients with MS was 64.9. Univariate analysis found that gender ( p < 0.001), antidepressant drugs ( p < 0.001), insomnia ( p < 0.001), fatigue ( p < 0.001), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) ( p < 0.001), pain ( p < 0.001), and depression ( p < 0.001) were associated with sleep disorders. Multivariate analysis revealed that female gender, antidepressant drug treatment, and a high psychological burden of MS may be risk factors for poor sleep among patients with MS. Conclusions Poor sleep is more common in patients with MS than in the general population. Sleep disorders should routinely be evaluated in patients with MS to improve the quality of sleep among them.