Peculiarities of sleep problems in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background and objectiveRecent research indicates that sleep problems are common in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), however, the relation between sleep problems and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with RRMS has not yet been investigated systematically. The objective of our study was to investigate the relations between sleep problems and social and clinical peculiarities in RRMS patients. Material and methods18–74 years old individuals with RRMS (N=101) involved in an ongoing self-report survey study were asked to complete the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep (MOSS) Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Visual Analoque Scale (VAS) for bladder/sexual dysfunction, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Multiple regression was used to evaluate relations between sleep problems and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants. ResultsThe mean sleep problems score on the MOSS scale was 39.22 and 54.5% of the sample had sleep problems. In a regression model variables statistically significantly related with sleep problems included female sex, older age, higher level of disability, fatique, pain, bladder/sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety. ConclusionThe sleep problems were highly prevalent in RRMS patients and related with some of the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.