Characteristics and correlations of sleep disorders in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Sleep disorders are a major but overlooked symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVES

This article aims to investigate the characteristics of sleep disorders in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to analyze the correlations between sleep disorders in RRMS and anxiety, depression, fatigue, and cognitive impairment.

METHODS

A total of 35 patients with RRMS and 35 controls were included, and both groups underwent assessments for sleep, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and cognitive function.

RESULTS

The RRMS group and the control group showed significant differences in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The group with poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) had significantly higher scores on the AIS, ISI, HAMA, and HAMD Scale compared to the group with good sleep quality ( = 0.036,  < 0.001,  = 0.036,  = 0.054). The PSQI showed a negative correlation with disease duration; the PSQI showed a positive correlation with HAMA, HAMD, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL); AIS, ISI, and Sleep Hygiene Awareness and Practice Scale (SHAPS) all demonstrated significant positive correlations with MFIS, HAMA, and HAMD; Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS) showed a negative correlation with HAMA and HAMD.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disorders, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments are more likely to occur in patients with RRMS; there is a certain correlation between PSQI, AIS, ISI, SHAPS, and DBAS scores in the RRMS group and fatigue, anxiety, and depression.