Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–4% of the general population. Accompanying subjective symptoms (pruritus or pain) may cause decreased life quality including sleep disorders (SD). Sixty psoriatic patients fulfilled the following questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), STOP BANG for the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) assessment, and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Severity Scale. Patients’ laboratory and clinical data were also investigated. All data obtained were compared to 40 participants without dermatoses. Mean PSQI, risk of OSAS, and RLS severity of psoriatics were significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05 respectively). There was a positive correlation between the time of suffering from psoriasis and the risk of OSAS (R = 0.286, p < 0.05). We did not observe any significant relationship between PSQI, risk of OSAS, or RLS and psoriasis severity assessed with PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index). We identified four possible predictors of RLS: glucose, CRP and total cholesterol concentrations, and PSQI. SD are significantly more frequent in psoriatics than in people without chronic dermatological diseases but surprisingly they are not correlated with psoriasis severity. SD decrease patients’ life quality and may result in serious consequences. Therefore, establishing recommendations concerning screening for SD and their predictors should be considered.
Highlights
The results revealed that sleep disorders (SD) are an essential problem in psoriatic patients
We have confirmed that psoriatics have decreased sleep quality, sleep fewer hours than individuals free from skin diseases, frequently take more sleep medicines, and have less energy in everyday activities
Psoriatics present a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) which increases along with the duration of the disease, and more severe symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), so we conclude that psoriasis may worsen the course of RLS
Summary
Sleep and skin are bi-directionally related to each other because skin functions, such as thermoregulation and control of core body temperature, affect sleep course and the other way around—sleep disorders (SD) in patients with skin diseases may influence patients’ life quality and mental health or even exacerbate dermatological symptoms [2]. Autoimmune, inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–4% of people worldwide [3,4]. It is a significant health and social issue because of decreased life quality and life expectancy five years shorter when compared to healthy persons due to comorbidities [3,5,6]. Psoriasis has been linked to coronary artery disease (CAD), arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS) [3,9]
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