The Impact of Sleep‐Related Disorders on the Sleep Quality in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis in a Saudi Cohort

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes physical as well as psychosocial disability in young adults. Various sleep‐related disorders have been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Objectives We determined the frequency and patterns of various sleep‐related disorders in pwMS and correlated those with the sleep quality. Methods This was an IRB‐approved study done at King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA, Riyadh, KSA. Informed consent was obtained. Validated questionnaires including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SDQ), and STOP‐BANG Questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results A total of 169 pwMS were included; 116 (69%) were females. Mean age was 35 ± 10 years; mean BMI was 27.6 ± 16.8 kg/m 2 . Almost half (47%) of the patients were employed, and most worked in day shift (85%). Caffeinated beverages were used by 87%; 16% were smokers. Relapsing remitting MS was the commonest type in 93%; 82% were using disease‐modifying therapy (DMT). Sleep‐related medications were used by 18%. Disability measured by EDSS was mild in 64%, moderate in 18%, and severe in 18%. Poor quality of sleep was reported by 74% (mean PSQI 7.8 ± 3.9). Circadian rhythm disorders were reported in 22%, psychiatric disorders in 18%, and parasomnias in 14%; 4% had high risk for sleep apnea. Psychiatric disorders ( p = 0.05) and movement disorders ( p = 0.05) were more frequently reported in women. Risk for insomnia ( p = 0.03), circadian rhythm disorders ( p = 0.013), and psychiatric disorders ( p = 0.002) were associated with poor sleep quality. Type of MS and current treatment did not affect the frequency of sleep disorders or sleep quality. Conclusions In our cohort of pwMS, sleep‐related disorders were common. Risk for insomnia, psychiatric disorders, and circadian rhythm disorders were associated with poor sleep quality. Certain disorders showed a trend toward female preponderance. Disease severity and use of DMTs did not affect sleep quality in our cohort.