OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbance is a common comorbidity of chronic pain. Inflammatory processes are dysregulated in sleep disturbance and also contribute to pain sensitivity. Thus, inflammation may play an important role in bidirectional associations between pain and sleep. Little is known about concurrent relationships among chronic pain, sleep, and inflammation. The aim of our study was to examine associations between sleep disturbance and circulating levels of the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), in individuals with and without chronic low back pain. METHODS: Sex-matched and age-matched adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP; n=25) or without chronic pain (controls; n=25)completed measures of sleep quality in the past month and depressive symptoms in the past week, and provided a blood sample for IL-6. The next morning, participants reported their sleep quality the previous night and their current experience of morning pain. RESULTS: Individuals with CLBP had more sleep disturbance than controls. Circulating IL-6 levels were similar for the 2 groups; however, in adults with CLBP, poorer sleep quality was associated with higher IL-6 levels, and both sleep and IL-6 related to pain reports. Unlike CLBP participants, controls showed normal, age-related increases in IL-6 levels, whereas sleep quality was unrelated to IL-6 levels. Depressive symptoms could not fully explain the observed associations. DISCUSSION: Inflammatory processes may play a significant role in the cycles of pain and sleep disturbance. Clinical interventions that improve sleep and reduce concomitant inflammatory dysregulation hold promise for chronic pain management.
OBJECTIVES:Sleep disturbance is a common comorbidity of chronic pain. Inflammatory processes are dysregulated in sleep disturbance and also contribute to pain sensitivity. Thus, inflammation may play an important role in bidirectional associations between pain and sleep. Little is known about concurrent relationships among chronic pain, sleep, and inflammation. The aim of our study was to examine associations between sleep disturbance and circulating levels of the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), in individuals with and without chronic low back pain. METHODS: Sex-matched and age-matched adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP; n=25) or without chronic pain (controls; n=25)completed measures of sleep quality in the past month and depressive symptoms in the past week, and provided a blood sample for IL-6. The next morning, participants reported their sleep quality the previous night and their current experience of morning pain. RESULTS: Individuals with CLBP had more sleep disturbance than controls. Circulating IL-6 levels were similar for the 2 groups; however, in adults with CLBP, poorer sleep quality was associated with higher IL-6 levels, and both sleep and IL-6 related to pain reports. Unlike CLBPparticipants, controls showed normal, age-related increases in IL-6 levels, whereas sleep quality was unrelated to IL-6 levels. Depressive symptoms could not fully explain the observed associations. DISCUSSION: Inflammatory processes may play a significant role in the cycles of pain and sleep disturbance. Clinical interventions that improve sleep and reduce concomitant inflammatory dysregulation hold promise for chronic pain management.
Authors: William J Kowalczyk; Maria A Sullivan; Suzette M Evans; Adam M Bisaga; Suzanne K Vosburg; Sandra D Comer Journal: J Pain Date: 2009-10-22 Impact factor: 5.820
Authors: Andrea Geiss; Nicolas Rohleder; Clemens Kirschbaum; Klaus Steinbach; Heinz W Bauer; Fernand Anton Journal: Pain Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Francesco Nappo; Katherine Esposito; Michele Cioffi; Giovanni Giugliano; Anna Maria Molinari; Giuseppe Paolisso; Raffaele Marfella; Dario Giugliano Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2002-04-03 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: V Mohamed-Ali; S Goodrick; A Rawesh; D R Katz; J M Miles; J S Yudkin; S Klein; S W Coppack Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 1997-12 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Kathi L Heffner; Christopher R France; Lisham Ashrafioun; Maria Quiñones; Patrick Walsh; Michael D Maloney; Brian D Giordano; Wilfred R Pigeon Journal: Clin J Pain Date: 2018-12 Impact factor: 3.442
Authors: Lea Ann Matura; Jamison Fargo; Jason S Fritz; Kerri A Smith; Anjali Vaidya; Diane Pinder; Christine Archer-Chicko; Harold I Palevsky; Allan I Pack; Marilyn S Sommers; Steven M Kawut Journal: Heart Lung Date: 2016-11-22 Impact factor: 2.210
Authors: Lea Ann Matura; Corey E Ventetuolo; Harold I Palevsky; David J Lederer; Evelyn M Horn; Stephen C Mathai; Diane Pinder; Christine Archer-Chicko; Emilia Bagiella; Kari E Roberts; Russell P Tracy; Paul M Hassoun; Reda E Girgis; Steven M Kawut Journal: Ann Am Thorac Soc Date: 2015-03
Authors: Kathi L Heffner; H Mei Ng; Julie A Suhr; Christopher R France; Gailen D Marshall; Wilfred R Pigeon; Jan A Moynihan Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Sylvette Bas; Axel Finckh; Gabor J Puskas; Domizio Suva; Pierre Hoffmeyer; Cem Gabay; Anne Lübbeke Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2014-07-09 Impact factor: 3.075