Poorer sleep quality in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders compared to healthy controls

This study aimed to investigate and compare sleep quality between patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder and healthy controls, and to analyze the association of sleep quality with disease characteristics, obstructive sleep apnea risk factors, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Chronic temporomandibular disorder patients (n = 503, mean age: 33.10 ± 13.26 years, 333 females) and 180 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age: 32.77 ± 12.95 years, 116 females) were included, who completed well-organized clinical report and answered questions on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), sleep apnea risk factors (STOP-Bang questionnaire), and excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale).

Mean global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were significantly higher in the patients (6.25 ± 2.77) than in healthy controls (3.84 ± 2.29) (p <  0.001). Poor sleep was significantly more prevalent in the patient group (56.9%) than in healthy controls (22.2%) (p <  0.001). Compared with healthy controls, chronic temporomandibular disorder patients had a higher likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-Bang total score ≥ 3; 7.2% vs. 16.1%; p <  0.01) and higher excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale score ≥ 10; 12.8% vs. 19.7%; p <  0.05). Age (odds ratio = 2.551; p <  0.001), female sex (odds ratio = 1.885; p = 0.007), total Epworth sleepiness scale score (odds ratio = 1.839; p = 0.014), and headache attributed to temporomandibular disorder (odds ratio = 1.519; p = 0.049) were the most powerful predictors of poor sleep (global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥ 5) in chronic temporomandibular disorder patients.

Chronic temporomandibular disorder patients had markedly impaired sleep quality than healthy controls. Poorer sleep in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder was associated with a variety of clinical factors, including a higher likelihood of excessive daytime sleepiness, older age, female gender, higher Epworth sleepiness scale scores, and the presence of headache attributed to temporomandibular disorder.