Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Patients With Genital and Non-Genital Cutaneous Warts: a Prospective Controlled Study

Diseases affect sleep quality, and sleep quality may also affect diseases by affecting the immune system. Depending on the immune status of patients with cutaneous warts, the extent of the disease and the response to treatment may vary.

This study aimed to characterize the association between cutaneous warts and sleep quality.

A prospective controlled study was conducted. Patients over 18 years with cutaneous warts were enrolled. The control subjects were healthy, age- and sex-matched people. Demographic and clinical data on the participants were gathered. The sleep quality of participants was evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

A total of 138 patients with genital or non-genital cutaneous warts (N = 59, N = 79, respectively) and 83 controls were interviewed. The average global PSQI score of the group with cutaneous warts was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.292 95% confidence interval 1.174-1.422). The rate of poor sleep quality in the patient group was higher than in the control group (odds ratio 3.835). Patients with genital warts had a significantly higher average global PSQI score than patients with non-genital warts (8.61 ± 3.63 versus. 6.98 ± 3.32). Female patients with genital warts had a significantly higher average global PSQI score than male patients with genital warts.

Evaluation of sleep quality in patients with warts, especially in patients with genital warts, may be suggested. The management of sleep disturbances associated with cutaneous warts may help increase the quality of life of patients and may affect disease control.