Associated factors on sleep disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders and the relevant determinants in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods One hundred patients with SLE were included in the study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Depression, anxiety, quality of life, and fatigue were evaluated by patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-7, short form 36 health survey (SF-36), and visual analogue scale (VAS) respectively. The demographic and clinical data were also recorded. SLE disease activity and damage severity were assessed by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) and systemic lupus erythematosus damage index (SDI) respectively. Mann-Whitnry U test, t test, Logistic regression were used for statistically analysis. Results The prevalence of sleep disorders in SLE patients was 42%. Compared with patients without sleep disorders, the ratio of males and married patients, age, the score of SDI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and fatigue were higher in SLE patients with sleep disorders, while the score of SF-36 was lower (r<0.05). Age, SLEDAI, SDI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and fatigue correlated positively with sleep disorders (The values of r were 0.215, 0.230, 0.311, 0.529, 0.455, 0.541, P<0.05). C3 and the score of SF-36 correlated negatively with sleep disorders (The values of r were -0.204, -0.342, -0.490, -0.464, -0.497, -0.590, -0.428, -0.478, -0.398, -0.412, -0.659 respectively, P<0.05). In multi-ple logistic regression analyses, gender (OR=22.22), anxiety (OR=2.895), body pain (OR=0.964), and energy (OR=0.947) were the independent determinants of sleep disorders (R2=0.494, P<0.01). Conclusion Poor sleep quality is common in SLE patients. Gender, age, disease activity and severity, anxiety, depressed mood, and quality of life contribute significantly to sleep disorders in SLE. Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Sleep disorders