Sleep disturbances in patients with vasculitis

Research on sleep patterns in individuals with vasculitis remains limited. This SleepVasc study aimed to 1) evaluate sleep disturbances and a range of sleep health dimensions in individuals with vasculitis, and 2) identify potential risk factors for sleep problems/disturbances/disorders.

SleepVasc was conducted through a cross-sectional, web-based survey within the Vasculitis Patient-Powered Research Network. Participants completed these questionnaires: Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10, Multivariable Apnea Prediction Questionnaire, and questions about sleep disorders, demographics, behaviors, comorbidities, characteristics of vasculitis, and medication use. Multivariable regression models analyzed associations of sleep disturbances with health behaviors (e.g., smoking, body mass index: BMI), comorbid conditions (e.g., psychiatric illness, pain), and vasculitis-specific characteristics.

908/1104 (82.2%) of participants reported sleep disturbances. Of these, 19.7% had a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which was most prevalent (22.5%) in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Specific sleep disturbances also varied by sex. Males reported a higher prevalence of OSA (26.1%), whereas females more often reported a diagnosis of insomnia (16.1%), excessive daytime sleepiness (26.2%), and impaired daily function (79.8%). In multivariable analyses, sleep disturbances were associated with financial strain, low physical activity, smoking, higher BMI, cardiovascular or psychiatric comorbidities, severe symptoms of vasculitis, pain, and kidney disease, but not with type of vasculitis.

Sleep disturbances were common in patients with vasculitis. Focusing on modifiable risk factors, rather than disease subtype, may improve sleep health and enhance health-related quality of life in this population.