Association Between Systemic Lupus Disease Activity and Sleep Quality among Sample of Females with or without Depression at Baghdad Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations that may involve many different organ systems. Sleep quality is a complex phenomenon associated with subjective estimates of the ease of sleep onset, sleep maintenance, total sleep time, and early awakening. Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that affects persons’ emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and sense of well-being. To evaluate sleep quality in SLE female patients with or without depression. To determine the effect of lupus disease activity and lupus duration on sleep quality. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Rheumatology Unit during the period from January to October 2018. The study Included 61 females with SLE who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a pre-constructed data collection sheet. Questionnaires included demographic and clinical data of the patients. SLE was diagnosed after fulfilling the ACR revised criteria and SLICC criteria. Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. Depression was evaluated by DSM-5 criteria. The mean age of SLE female patients was 33.6±10.2. Poor sleep quality was reported in 59% of patients. Depression was reported in 42.6% of patients. There was a direct significant correlation between SLEDAI and each of the PSQI scores and DSM-5 criteria. Higher body mass index was significantly associated with higher SLEDAI. Longer duration of SLE was significantly associated with higher PSQI. While other variables showed no significant association with SLEDAI, PSQI, and DSM-5. Higher scores of the SLE disease activity index was associated with poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms.