Comparison of Sleep Problems in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and Multiple Sclerosis

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5798 · Published: May 1, 2016

Simple Explanation

This study compares sleep problems in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Sleep issues are common in both conditions, but it's unclear if they experience the same types of sleep problems. The research involved 1,677 participants and used a self-report questionnaire called the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) to assess sleep quality and quantity. The study found that while overall sleep problems are similar, people with SCI tend to sleep fewer hours and have more difficulty staying asleep compared to those with MS. This suggests different treatment approaches may be needed for each group.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

1,677 individuals (SCI = 581; MS = 1,096)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Individuals with SCI reported significantly greater levels of sleep disturbance (i.e., difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep) than individuals with MS.
2
Individuals with SCI reported an average sleep duration of 6.6 hours per night—substantially fewer hours than were reported by the MS group.
3
No significant group differences emerged for Snoring, Respiratory Problems, Sleep Adequacy, or Daytime Somnolence.

Research Summary

This study compared sleep problems in individuals with SCI and MS using the MOS-SS. It found that while both groups experience sleep problems, the nature of these problems differs. Individuals with SCI reported greater sleep disturbance and shorter sleep duration compared to those with MS. However, global sleep problems were similar between the groups. The findings suggest that different treatment approaches may be needed for SCI and MS patients, focusing on increasing sleep quantity and reducing sleep disruptions for SCI, and potentially addressing sleep quality for MS.

Practical Implications

Targeted interventions for SCI

Interventions for individuals with SCI should focus on increasing sleep quantity and reducing sleep disruptions.

Targeted interventions for MS

Interventions for individuals with MS may benefit from a focus on strategies to change sleep quality.

Clinical approaches to reduce snoring

Clinical approaches to reducing snoring (e.g., weight loss, smoking cessation, adjusting sleep position) are likely to be helpful for both of these diagnostic groups, particularly males in these groups.

Study Limitations

1
Data came from community-based self-report surveys, which may be sensitive to selection and response biases.
2
The MOS-SS does not include a measure of daytime sleep.
3
The study was cross-sectional, which limits conclusions regarding causal inferences.

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