An Assessment of sleep disturbances and quality of life in primary Sjögren's syndrome and its relationship with urinary incontinence

Introduction: It was aimed to evaluate sleep disturbances and quality of life in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients and to evaluate any relationship with urinary incontinence. Methods: The study included 77 voluntary patients admitted to the rheumatology clinic. The control group consisted of 80 healthy individuals. All participants were requested to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepines Scale (ESS), International Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) study group (IRLSSG) rating scale, and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. The age of pSS onset, age at diagnosis, and age at the beginning of therapy were recorded. Patients with urinary incontinence were evaluated with the incontinence severity index(ISI). Results: The mean scores of the mental health, general health, vitality, physical function, physical role function and emotional role function parameters of the patients were statistically significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers. In the ESS scale, the average score was found to be 7.9±2.8 in the patient group and 4.5±2.1 in the control group. The average IRLSSG rating scale score was 13.4±7.6 in the patient group and 5.4±5.2 in the control group. The total PSQI score was 7.8±3.5 in the patient group and 4.11±1.64 in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of ESS, IRLSSG rating scale and sleep quality scores. Patients with urinary incontinence (n=26) had significantly higher PSQI and SF-36 scores than patients without urinary incontinence (n=51). Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with pSS have a significantly decreased sleep quality and HRQOL compared with the normal population. Urinary incontinence had a negative impact on sleep and HRQOL. RLS, sleepiness and urinary incontinence are common in patients with pSS.