Sleep and fatigue in multiple sclerosis: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional, cohort study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Fatigue and sleep disorders are common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but their underlying causes and interrelations remain unclear.
• Understanding these issues is crucial for improving patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of fatigue and sleep disorders in MS patients.
• To determine the relationship between MS clinical features and sleep disorders.
• To investigate the connection between sleep disorders and fatigue in MS.

Main Methods:

• 102 MS patients were assessed using clinical features and validated scales.
• Scales included: Expanded Disability Status Scale, MFIS, SAS, BDI, PSQI, ESS, and Berlin questionnaire for OSAS.
• Clinical features analyzed: MS type, disease duration, severity, treatment, and spinal lesions.

Main Results:

• Poor sleep quality correlated with higher fatigue (MFIS), RLS symptoms, anxiety (SAS), and depression (BDI) scores.
• Fatigue was associated with older age, sleepiness, RLS, poor sleep quality (PSQI), anxiety (SAS), and depression (BDI).
• A significant relationship was observed between fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Conclusions:

• MS is linked to a high prevalence of sleep complaints: poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, RLS, and OSAS symptoms.
• A strong association exists between fatigue and sleep disorders in MS patients.
• Anxiety and depression are significantly related to sleep disturbances in this population.