Sleep and Neuromuscular Disease

Abstract

Sleep disorders in patients with neuromuscular disease are common, but underrecognized by health care providers, and sometimes by patients themselves. Their symptoms may be confused with those of the underlying disease. Their recognition is an important part of the management of patients with neuromuscular disorders, improving quality of life, and sometimes increasing survival. Inadequate ventilation underlies many sleep disorders, and sleep-related disorders may presage daytime ventilatory disorders with disease progression. Involvement of the central or peripheral nervous system, or both, may disrupt sleep, with the relative contribution of each depending on the specific disorder. The pertinent anatomy, physiology, and clinical features of sleep disorders in neuromuscular diseases and a basic approach to their assessment is discussed. Specific neuromuscular disorders in which sleep is commonly affected are reviewed and the principles of management of sleep disorders summarized.