Romana Stehlik1,2, Jan Ulfberg3, Ding Zou4, Jan Hedner4,5, Ludger Grote4,5. 1. Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden, Phone: +46 767036667. 2. Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 3. Sleep Disorders Center, Capio Health Center, Orebro, Sweden. 4. Center for Sleep and Vigilance Disorders, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 5. Sleep Disorders Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is associated with poor quality of sleep, but the detailed underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study we investigated the influence of CWP on morning cortisol and fasting glucose concentrations as well as sleep disordered breathing. METHODS: In this case-control study, subjects with CWP (n=31) and a control group without CWP (n=23) were randomly selected from a population-based cohort of women. Current pain intensity, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness [Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS)], psychiatric comorbidity and occurrence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) were assessed. Overnight polygraphy was applied to quantify sleep apnoea, airflow limitation and attenuations of finger pulse wave amplitude (>50%) as a surrogate marker for increased skin sympathetic activity. Morning cortisol and fasting glucose concentrations were determined. Generalised linear models were used for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: CWP was associated with higher cortisol (464±141 vs. 366±111 nmol/L, p=0.011) and fasting glucose (6.0±0.8 vs. 5.4±0.7 mmol/L, p=0.007) compared with controls. The significance remained after adjustment for age, body mass index, RLS and anxiety status (β=122±47 nmol/L and 0.89±0.28 mmol/L, p=0.009 and 0.001, respectively). The duration of flow limitation in sleep was longer (35±22 vs. 21±34 min, p=0.022), and pulse wave attenuation was more frequent (11±8 vs. 6±2 events/h, p=0.048) in CWP subjects compared with controls. RLS was associated with higher ESS independent of CWP (β=3.1±1.3, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated morning cortisol, impaired fasting glucose concentration and increased skin sympathetic activity during sleep suggested an activated adrenal medullary system in subjects with CWP, which was not influenced by comorbid RLS. IMPLICATIONS: CWP is associated with activated stress markers that may deteriorate sleep.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is associated with poor quality of sleep, but the detailed underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study we investigated the influence of CWP on morning cortisol and fasting glucose concentrations as well as sleep disordered breathing. METHODS: In this case-control study, subjects with CWP (n=31) and a control group without CWP (n=23) were randomly selected from a population-based cohort of women. Current pain intensity, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness [Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS)], psychiatric comorbidity and occurrence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) were assessed. Overnight polygraphy was applied to quantify sleep apnoea, airflow limitation and attenuations of finger pulse wave amplitude (>50%) as a surrogate marker for increased skin sympathetic activity. Morning cortisol and fasting glucose concentrations were determined. Generalised linear models were used for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: CWP was associated with higher cortisol (464±141 vs. 366±111 nmol/L, p=0.011) and fasting glucose (6.0±0.8 vs. 5.4±0.7 mmol/L, p=0.007) compared with controls. The significance remained after adjustment for age, body mass index, RLS and anxiety status (β=122±47 nmol/L and 0.89±0.28 mmol/L, p=0.009 and 0.001, respectively). The duration of flow limitation in sleep was longer (35±22 vs. 21±34 min, p=0.022), and pulse wave attenuation was more frequent (11±8 vs. 6±2 events/h, p=0.048) in CWP subjects compared with controls. RLS was associated with higher ESS independent of CWP (β=3.1±1.3, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated morning cortisol, impaired fasting glucose concentration and increased skin sympathetic activity during sleep suggested an activated adrenal medullary system in subjects with CWP, which was not influenced by comorbid RLS. IMPLICATIONS: CWP is associated with activated stress markers that may deteriorate sleep.
Authors: Edurne Úbeda-D'Ocasar; Victor Jiménez Díaz-Benito; Gracia María Gallego-Sendarrubias; Juan Antonio Valera-Calero; Ángel Vicario-Merino; Juan Pablo Hervás-Pérez Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2020-11-09
Authors: Angela M Mickle; Cynthia Garvan; Chelsea Service; Ralisa Pop; John Marks; Stanley Wu; Jeffrey C Edberg; Roland Staud; Roger B Fillingim; Emily J Bartley; Kimberly T Sibille Journal: Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks) Date: 2020-12-15