Background: While the impact asthma has on sleep disturbances is well-described, the impact that sleep can have on asthma is less understood. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to examine the evidence surrounding how sleep impacts asthma. Methods: A literature search was performed from August 17 to September 5, 2023, in four databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Inclusion criteria included cross-sectional, cohort, and observational studies published in English that evaluated adult populations with clear directionality of sleep impacting asthma. Two independent reviewers used an iterative process for abstract and full-text review. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool for each study type. Results: Of 919 studies, 13 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Sleep was assessed through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (no. = 6), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (no. = 5), self-reported sleep duration (no. = 4), and actigraphy (no. = 2). Asthma was assessed through asthma control surveys (no. = 11), spirometry (no. = 7), inflammatory biomarkers (no. = 3), and a quality-of-life survey (no. = 1). Twelve studies (92%) determined that sleep quality and/or duration impacted asthma control, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. One study (8%) found no association between sleep parameters and asthma control in individuals with well-controlled asthma. Conclusions: Poor sleep quality is associated with poorer asthma control, more frequent asthma exacerbations, and reduced quality of life. Further research using valid and reliable self-report and objective measures is needed to characterize sleep disturbances in individuals with asthma and to assess the impact that sleep disturbances have on asthma.
Barry et al. (Tue,) studied this question.