Assessing sleep-related breathing disorders among newly diagnosed rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis patients: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Rheumatology international 2024-06, Vol.44 (6), p.1025-1034
• Main Authors: Petzinna, Simon M., Winter, Lone, Skowasch, Dirk, Pizarro, Carmen, Weber, Marcel, Kütting, Daniel, Behning, Charlotte, Bauer, Claus-Jürgen, Schäfer, Valentin S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arthritis, Psoriatic - diagnosis; Arthritis, Psoriatic - epidemiology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Observational Research; Polysomnography; Prevalence; Psoriatic arthritis; Rheumatology; Risk Factors; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - diagnosis; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1437-160X; 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05610-8

Objectives This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in newly diagnosed, untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, and to develop a screening algorithm for early detection. Methods We evaluated newly diagnosed RA or PsA patients using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire, cardiorespiratory polygraphy (RPG), and clinical and laboratory assessments. Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was diagnosed based on pathological RPG findings excessive daytime sleepiness, defined as ESS score above 10. Results The study included 39 patients (22 RA, 17 PsA) and 23 controls. In RPG, SRBD was identified in 38.5% of arthritis patients compared to 39.1% of controls ( p  = 1.00), with male gender ( p  = .004) and age ( p