Association Between Sleep Quality and Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Korean Adults: Questionnaire Based Study

Abstract

Objectives: Many studies on sleep disturbance and chronic pain such as headache, back pain, and fibromyalgia syndrome have been reported. In comparison to chronic pain, few studies have investigated sleep quality in myofascial pain syndrome [MPS]. This study investigates the association between the MPS and the quality of sleep. Methods: We investigated 100 patients who complained of muscle pain with diagnostic criteria matching that of MPS and exhibited no major medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorders, and 122 subjects who were recruited from a Health Screening Center. Participants completed the following questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], the Insomnia Severity Index [ISI], Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Sleep Apnea scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The participants were recorded on their first visiting day in an outpatient clinic. Results: The PSQI and ISI scores of patients with MPS were significantly higher than that of control subjects [PSQI: 12.3 +/- 7.1 versus 5.4 +/- 2.6, p< 0.001, ISI: 16.1 +/- 9.2 versus 6.7 +/- 4.3, p < 0.001]. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, the Sleep Apnea scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire score, and Beck Depression Inventory score revealed that the odds ratio for MPS according to an increase in the PSQI and ISI score [PSQI: 3.60, 95% confidence interval: 2.33-7.84 versus ISI: 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-1.36]. Conclusions: This study showed that poor sleep quality is significantly associated with MPS. Thus, careful evaluation of sleep disturbance should be considered in patient with MPS.