Sleep Measurement in Osteoarthritis and Inflammatory Arthritis: A Systematic Scoping Review Protocol

Osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory arthritis (IA), including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondylarthritis (axSpA), are leading causes of disability worldwide, significantly impacting health and quality of life. Sleep issues are highly prevalent in these populations, exacerbating pain, fatigue, and disease activity. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding how sleep disorders should be assessed.

The main objectives are to identify, describe, and synthesise which types of sleep dimensions are evaluated, what measurement tools are employed to measure them in individuals with OA and IA, and provide an overview of the impact of sleep issues in OA and IA.

This systematic scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework and be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Systematic Scoping Reviews. The search strategy will involve PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, along with grey literature sources. Articles will be selected based on predefined eligibility criteria, and data will be synthesised narratively.

This systematic scoping review will synthesise the current literature on studies that collect and report sleep assessment as a primary or secondary outcome in people with OA and IA. It will clarify which sleep dimensions are assessed and how they are measured, provide an updated overview to inform clinical practice regarding sleep assessment and impact in OA and IA, and identify key research gaps.

The findings will be disseminated through research publications, including peer-reviewed articles and conference abstract(s)/presentation(s).