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Sleep disorders in patients with chronic fatigue
D Buchwald1, R Pascualy, C Bombardier
1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
Summary
Sleep disorders are common in chronic fatigue patients, with 81% affected. Many cases involve sleep apnea or idiopathic hypersomnia, often treatable and independent of chronic fatigue syndrome or psychiatric diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Chronic fatigue is a debilitating condition with complex etiologies.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in patients with chronic fatigue.
- The specific prevalence and types of sleep disorders in this population require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with chronic fatigue.
- To identify specific sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and idiopathic hypersomnia.
- To explore the relationship between sleep disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric diagnoses.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study design.
- Inclusion of 59 highly selected patients from a university-based chronic fatigue clinic.
- Utilized screening questionnaires, medical/psychiatric evaluations, polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency testing.
Main Results:
- 81% of patients exhibited at least one sleep disorder.
- Sleep apnea (44%) and idiopathic hypersomnia (12%) were the most frequent diagnoses.
- 41% of patients had abnormal multiple sleep latency test results.
- No significant differences in sleep disorders were found between patients meeting CFS criteria and those who did not.
- Sleep symptoms and disorders were unrelated to psychiatric diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of treatable sleep disorders exists in chronically fatigued patients.
- These sleep disorders are often independent of meeting CFS criteria or having a current psychiatric disorder.
- Screening for and treating sleep disorders may be beneficial for managing chronic fatigue symptoms.