ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Sleep disturbance is among the most important geriatric syndromes, and its evaluation is part of the routine comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Previous studies have demonstrated that older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have poorer sleep quality than younger control patients. However, there needs to be more data on the sleep quality of older patients with RA with age-matched controls. METHODS: Totally 100 participants, 50 older RA patients classified according to the ACR criteria, and 50 age- and gender-matched control patients without RA were included in the study. All patients underwent CGA, including assessing their functionality, depressive, cognitive, and nutritional status. In addition, sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and RA disease activity by a rheumatologist using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28-CRP), and quality of life with the RA QoL questionnaire (RAQoL). RESULTS: The median age was 70 years (min-max: 65-86), and 62.5% were female. Co-morbidities and comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters were similar between the two groups. Median PSQI global score was higher in patients with RA than controls [9 (min-max: 1-20) vs. 5 (min-max: 1-13), p = 0.029). When the patients were categorized with respect to being 'poor sleepers' (PSQI score > 5), 62% of patients with RA and 38% of controls were poor sleepers (p = 0.016). The patients classified as poor sleepers were more likely to have a diagnosis of RA, higher DAS28-CRP and RAQoL scores, lower grip strength, and be a woman. PSQI global scores were significantly positively correlated with DAS28-CRP scores (r = 0.514, p < 0.001), RAQoL scores (r = 0.689, p < 0.001), number of medications used (r = 0.292, p = 0.003), and YDS scores (r = 0.407, p < 0.001), and significantly negatively correlated with handgrip strength (r = - 0.351, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that older patients with RA might have poorer sleep quality compared to age- and gender-matched controls. Moreover, sleep quality correlated with RA disease activity and QoL in old age.
