- Comorbidities and poor sleep quality are prevalent among people living with MS (PwMS).
- Having a higher number of comorbidities was found to be associated with poorer sleep quality.
- Optimal management of comorbidities could significantly improve sleep quality in PwMS.
What was the aim of the research?
Previous studies have shown that PwMS experience a higher rate of poor sleep quality when compared to the general population. Investigating poor sleep quality is important because of its association with poorer health-related quality of life in PwMS.
The aim of this study was to understand how comorbidities affect sleep quality in people with MS. Specifically, the researchers investigated whether the number and presence of various comorbidities are associated with sleep quality and assessed the relative impact of different comorbidities on sleep quality.
What did the researchers do?
Researchers, supported by MS Australia, analysed data from the Australian Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study (AMSLS). The AMSLS, one of MS Australia’s collaborative research platforms, is a survey-based research study that has been running since 2002 and now has approximately 2500 people completing research surveys each year.
Sleep data was sourced from the 2020 MS Nurses and Sleep Survey using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a patient-reported questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a four-week time interval.
Comorbidity data on 28 individual comorbidities, selected based on the most prevalent comorbidities observed in prior studies among PwMS, was sourced from Lifestyle and Environment Surveys (2016, 2018 and 2020).
Analysis for the study included data from 1597 participants who had provided both comorbidity and sleep data.
What did the study find?
The study, published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, revealed that 16 out of 28 comorbidities analysed were significantly associated with worse sleep quality in PwMS compared to those without comorbidities.
Individuals with depression and anxiety exhibited the highest increase in PSQI scores, indicating the greatest impact on sleep quality. Other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, also contributed to poorer sleep quality.
The study also found in pwMS, having more than one comorbidity was strongly associated with poorer sleep quality. There was also a clear relationship between an increasing number of comorbidities and worsening sleep quality.
What does this mean for people with MS?
Poor sleep quality is known to be associated with poorer health-related quality of life in PwMS.
The results from this study hold significant value for healthcare workers, as they highlight the importance of identifying and prioritising the comorbidities that influence sleep quality. By focusing on these key areas, healthcare professionals can assist PwMS in improving overall sleep quality and potentially enhance their well-being.
In particular, managing depression and anxiety is crucial, as these two comorbidities were found to have the most significant impact on poor sleep quality.
