SLEEP DISORDERS IN RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

The aim: Our study aimed at evaluating the relationships between sleep disorders (SD), cognitive impairment (CI), anxiety and depression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Materials and methods: One hundred and five patients with RRMS (80 females and 25 males) aged from 22 to 67 years (mean age: 41,8±10,7; EDSS:3,5±1,6; disease duration (DD): 10,3±8,5 years) were enrolled into the study. All participants completed questionnaires on sleep (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index /PSQI), cognitive functions (The Montreal Cognitive Assessment /MoCA), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale /HAM-A), depression (Beck Depression Inventory/ BDI). Results: According to PSQI score the patients were divided into two groups: with (n=42) and without SD (n=63). The patients with SD were older (45,36±1,66 vs 39,41±1,27, p=0.005), had higher EDSS score (3,98±0,26 vs 3,14±0,19, p=0,008), BDI (13,79±1,14 vs 8,96±0,86, p=0,0009) and HAM-A (24,52±1,42 vs 16,56±0,99, p<0,0001) scales compared with patients without SD. The frequency of anxiety (p=0,0034) and depression (p=0,038) was significantly higher in RRMS patients with compared to those without SD. No significant difference was found in gender, DD and MoCA score. In patients with SD significant negative correlation between MoCA and BDI score (r = -0,42, p<0,005) was found. In the group of patients without SD significant negative correlation between MoCA and EDSS (r = -0,27, p=0,03), MoCA and BDI (r = -0,26, p=0,043),) MoCA and HAM-A (r = -0,25, p=0,041) score was detected. Conclusions: Insomnia type SD in RRMS patients were associated with older age, higher EDSS score and presence of anxiety and depression.