The Effect of Sleep Quality on Pain in Chilean Individuals with Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Claudio Bascour-Sandoval,Rubén Gajardo-Burgos,Javier Albayay,Claudia Lacoste-Abarzua,Mirko Vidal-Torres,Germán Gálvez-García,Diego Bielefeldt-Astudillo,Hellen Belmar-Arriagada

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111370

Abstract

Poor sleep quality (SQ) negatively affects pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). As the level of economic development of a country determines its sanitary conditions, these can influence the sleep–pain relationship; therefore, it is relevant to generate evidence in the population with MSD in developing countries. This cross-sectional study sought to determine the effect of poor SQ on pain in Chilean individuals with MSD, controlling for sex and duration of pain (in months). Method: A total of 228 individuals were included. SQ was measured with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), pain (intensity, interference and distress relative to pain) was measured with visual analog scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to analyze the effect of SQ on pain. Results: A high frequency of poor SQ was present in the studied group, and was more prevalent in women. The SEM model evidenced that poor SQ predicts greater pain. Sex influences sleep quality and pain, but not pain duration. Conclusions: These findings indicate that poor SQ predicts higher pain in MSD and that women exhibit worse SQ and more significant pain than men. Our findings support that SQ should be considered in the comprehensive approach to pain in individuals with MSD.

Highlights

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major public health issue [1] characterized by the presence of pain and frequently associated with sleep disturbances resulting in poor sleep quality (SQ) [2]
Older age and more significant pain were observed in women, except pain duration, which showed no differences between men and women
Our findings suggest that poor SQ predicts higher pain levels, highlighting an important factor to be considered in the approach of pain in individuals with MSD

Summary

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major public health issue [1] characterized by the presence of pain and frequently associated with sleep disturbances resulting in poor sleep quality (SQ) [2]. There is increasing research interest in the link between SQ and pain in individuals affected by MSD. Some studies have described the relationship between SQ and pain as bidirectional [3], recent evidence indicates that SQ predicts pain more strongly than pain predicts SQ [4,5,6]. Poor SQ can alter key processes in pain perception. Total and partial sleep deprivation has been shown to interfere with pain processing, inducing hyperalgesia in pain-free subjects and individuals with MSD [5,7].

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion