Chronic pain and associations with sleep disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep and painful perception are fundamental to the health and survival of individuals. However, sleep disorders can be associated with the presence of chronic pain and profoundly alter individuals live quality. Objective: To identify possible association between sleep quality and chronic musculoskeletal pain; describe polysomnographic variables presenting alterations in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain; to identify possible polysomnographic aspects that predict poor sleep quality in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out, with data collected from polysomnographic examinations performed on individuals under investigation for sleep apnea. The Pittsburgh and Epworth Scale was also used for sleep quality. To address the clinical profile in face of pain, the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and the numerical pain scale were used. Results: A correlation between the variables pain intensity and sleep efficiency (r = 0.42, p = 0.04) was found; hours of sleep and sleep efficiency (r = 0.86; p = 0.001); as well as between sleep latency and sleep efficiency (r-0.633; p = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that several associations are possible for healing of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Contributing in developing interventions focused on improving sleep in patients with pain.