[Subjective sleep quality evaluation in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders]

To analyze the subjective sleep assessment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum diseases (NMOSD) according to the current disease criteria of 2015.

Twenty patients (17 women and 3 men), median age 44.5 years [Q₁:Q₃=27.0:60.3], diagnosed with NMOSD were enrolled. The patients received pathogenetic therapy and had no relapse for the last month. All of them gave their consent to the publication of the obtained data in anonymized form. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire, the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.

A decrease in nocturnal sleep quality over the past month was identified in 70% of the patients. When assessing the possible influence of therapy on sleep quality, the low sleep quality was observed in 10 respondents in the cohort of patients receiving therapy with anti-CD20 drugs (n=15), in all respondents in the cohort of satralizumab recipients (n=2) and in 2 people in the cohort of other therapy (n=3). It was also found that more pronounced sleep disturbances were in the cohort of patients with optic neuritis and combined lesions of the optic nerve and spinal cord. Sleep quality was significantly affected by the manifestations of the disease characteristic for this nosology, namely, the presence of pain syndrome (night awakenings in 40% of cases), the presence of anxiety and depressive disorders (night awakenings in 65% of cases), sensory disorders (6 night awakenings in 5% of cases), and pelvic disorders (night awakenings in 70% of cases).

In a cohort of patients with NMOSD, a high incidence of sleep disorders, anxiety and depression has been established. These disorders significantly affect the quality of life of patients and require constant assessment and correction.