ObjectivesTo investigate the association between pain and sleep quality, anxiety, depression, body perception, and biological rhythm in chronic scrotal pain (CSP). Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study of 140 CSP patients was conducted between January and October 2023. The patients were separated into groups according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score as group 1 (score<3, n=27), group 2 (score: 3–6, n=84), and group 3 (score>6, n=29). In addition to demographic data, the points were recorded from the Body Image Scale (BIS), Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ResultsThe median (IQR) age of patients was 33 (20) years and the median (IQR) duration of pain was 5 (9) months. Group 3 patients had more anxiety (24.1% vs. group 1: 22.2%; group 2: 8.3%; P=0.03) and depression (55.2% vs. group 1: 40.7%; group 2: 29.8%; P=0.04) symptoms. No statistical differences were determined between the groups according to the BIS (P=0.54). The median (IQR) total BRIAN score was higher in group 3 than group 1 [37 (11) vs. 33 (13), P=0.03]. Higher rates of poor sleep quality were determined in group 3 patients according to the PSQI (75.9% vs. group 1: 48.1%; group 2: 51.2%; P=0.04). The VAS score was found to be positively associated with pain duration, total BRIAN score and PSQI score (r=0.31, P<0.001; r=0.17, P=0.04; r=0.23, P=0.006, respectively). The PSQI score was found to be an independent predictor for a higher VAS score (HR: 1.14, P=0.01). ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that poor sleep quality may influence the perceived intensity of pain. Level of evidenceII.
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