BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances are frequently reported by patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Studies have shown an increased incidence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) in people with stable long-term SCI.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study in order to evaluate the features and possible predisposing factors of SDB and PLMS in a heterogenic population of consecutive SCI patients admitted at the Spinal Unit of the Niguarda Hospital within the first year after injury. Each patient underwent a clinical assessment, full polysomnography, and arterial blood gas analysis before and immediately after sleep. Multiple logistic regressions were applied in order to evaluate factors associated with SDB and PLMS.

RESULTS

Thirty-five (15 tetraplegic and 20 paraplegic) patients were enrolled. Nine patients (25.7%) had an obstructive SDB and 10 (28.6%) had PLMS. The frequency of SDB was higher in tetraplegic with respect to paraplegic patients (Wald statistic: 7.71; P = 0.0055), whereas PLMs were significantly more frequent in patients with an incomplete motor lesion than in subjects with a complete motor lesion (Wald statistic: 6.14; P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

This study confirms a high frequency of SDB and PLMS in SCI patients in the first year following injury. Independently from possible sub-acute and chronic clinical variables, the level and the completeness of the spinal cord lesion are the main factors associated respectively with an early development of SDB and PLMS.