Sleep and Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining good physical and emotional health. Sleep and circadian rhythms are fundamental regulators of human physiology, influencing most biological processes from the cellular to the organ-system level. Sleep disorders are common with a prevalence of 30% in adults. Impaired sleep reduces patients' quality of life and has a significant negative economic impact on the health care system. Sleep deprivation can affect the brain and alter normal circadian rhythms. These disturbances influence the brain-gut axis and subsequently affect both symptom development and symptom expression in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs), including functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. DGBIs are highly prevalent with at least 40% of adults worldwide meeting criteria for at least 1 DGBI. This article reviews the prevalence and impact of disordered sleep, discusses the basics of normal and abnormal sleep, examines the role of diagnostic testing for sleep disorders, and evaluates the role of disordered sleep in common DGBIs. Practical tips to evaluate and treat patients with DGBIs and disordered sleep are also discussed.