Insomnia and other sleep complaints in inflammatory versus noninflammatory skin disorders: An observational...

Sleep problems are common in patients with dermatologic disorders. However, it is unknown whether inflammatory skin disorders are associated with more sleep problems than noninflammatory skin disorders.

To determine whether sleep problems occur more frequently in people with inflammatory skin disorders compared to noninflammatory skin disorders.

Observational case-control study.

Patients with inflammatory skin disorders (psoriasis [n = 17] and chronic eczema [n = 30]) and noninflammatory skin disorders (nonmelanoma skin cancers [NMSC] [n = 31]) were enrolled. Data collection occurred during a single visit. Statistical analysis of questionnaire results between groups utilized inverse propensity score weighted (IPSW) ANOVA and logistic regression models.

Groups differed in mean (SD) age (P < 0.001) and itch severity (P < 0.001). Based on IPSW ANOVA models, the inflammatory group had significantly higher fatigue scores (mean [95% CI]; 32.0 [28.4-35.5]) than the noninflammatory group (25.5 [21.6-29.3]; P = 0.017). The inflammatory group odds of insomnia were significantly greater based on two definitions of insomnia, ISI ≥ 15 and PSSQ-I, with odds ratios (95% CI) of 14.4 (2.16-525) and 4.82 (1.45-20.7), respectively. These results were consistent in comparisons between the three groups, with no difference between psoriasis and chronic eczema, but with chronic eczema, significantly more were affected than NMSC.

Patients with inflammatory skin disorders report significantly more fatigue and have higher odds of insomnia compared to patients with noninflammatory skin cancers.