ASSESSMENT OF SLEEP QUALITY AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Yatsyshyn R.I., Drogomeretska O.I.

• Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University

Summary. Introduction. Insufficient sleep quality stands as a prevalent and potentially incapacitating issue within the context of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Despite this, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding the underlying factors contributing to subpar sleep quality and the correlated clinical aspects of sleep disruption in SSc patients. Aim. Our objective encompassed the assessment of sleep quality and the discernment of clinical relationships concerning sleep disruption among individuals diagnosed with SSc. Methods. This research adopted a cross-sectional approach and was executed over the period from 2021 to 2023. The participant pool consisted of adult individuals diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc), who were enlisted from rheumatology department of the KNP «Regional Clinical Hospital of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council». The participants’ involvement encompassed the general clinical examination and assessment of sleep quality through the application of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and completion of the Berlin questionnaire. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore the potential clinical connections associated with substandard sleep quality (or sleep disruption) through an in-depth investigation employing the PSQI. Results. The study included 38 patients, most of whom were women (89.5%). Patients with diffuse SSc accounted for 52.6% of the participants. The average age is 38 (33–64), the duration of the disease is 7.5 (4.5–11.0) years. 23 people had poor sleep quality (PSQI 7.34±3.21). Patients with poor sleep quality had more symptoms such as esophagitis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), joint pain, and anxiety. Logistic analysis showed an association of esophagitis (OR 8.4; 95% CI 1.5–46.1) and ILD (OR 10.1; 95% CI 1.8–55.8) with poor sleep quality. There was also a correlation between PSQI and pain level (r=0.534), but no statistically significant relationship with age, disease duration, modified Rodnan skin rating scale (mRSS) and body mass index (BMI). Conclusions. Roughly fifty percent of the SSc patients indicated inadequate sleep quality, and two factors that displayed noteworthy associations were pulmonary involvement and dyspepsia. Moreover, the scores obtained from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) displayed a positive correlation with the comprehensive pain levels assessed via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The implementation of early evaluation and treatment strategies for conditions like digital ulcers, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain management could potentially lead to a reduction in sleep-related challenges encountered by individuals affected by SSc.