1009 SLEEP QUALITY MEDIATES RACE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN PAIN INTENSITY AMONG INNER-CITY WOMEN PRESENTING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Abstract

Pain conditions are more common among African Americans than other racial/ethnic groups, however, mechanisms underlying this difference are poorly understood. The current study investigated the role of self-reported sleep characteristics in pain intensity outcomes among a diverse sample of inner-city women presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) for treatment/management of a non-chronic pain condition. As part of an ongoing, longitudinal study examining the relationship between acute pain and trauma history among inner-city women presenting to the ED, baseline ratings of pain intensity (at that moment on a 0–10 scale; 0 = no pain - 10 = extreme pain) and self- reported sleep characteristics [PROMIS-Short Form; the previous month’s sleep duration (hours) and sleep quality (0–5 scale; 0 Very Poor - 5 Very Good)] were collected from 173 women (M Age = 28.92 years; 63% African-American, 20% Latina/Hispanic, 15% White, 2% Other). Across the entire sample, pain intensity ratings were significantly correlated with self-reported sleep quality ratings (r = -0.19, p <0.05), but not sleep duration. African American participants had significantly higher pain intensity ratings and lower sleep quality ratings than other racial/ethnic groups (all p’s < 0.05). Mediation analyses indicated that, after accounting for the effect of sleep quality on pain intensity, the difference in pain intensity between African American and non-African American participants was no longer significant (Direct Effect =0 .78, SE =0 .40, p >0 .05). Thus, sleep quality mediated the relationship between African American racial/ethnic status and pain intensity (Total Effect = 0.93, SE = 0.39, p <0.05). Results suggest that sleep quality may play a key role in helping explain race-related differences in pain intensity among African American women. Although African American participants in our sample had significantly higher pain intensity ratings than other racial/ethnic groups, once sleep quality ratings were taken into account, that difference was no longer statistically significant. As data collection for the current study is ongoing, relevant 3 and 6-month follow-up data will be presented to provide additional information on the relationship between sleep and pain overtime from this diverse sample. R01DA039522-01A1