Factors Associated with Poor Sleep in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world. Sleep disturbance in individuals with MS is approximately four times higher than in the general population. This is concerning given that poor sleep quality negatively affects one's mental and physical well-being. The objectives of this study are (1) to document the prevalence of sleep problems in a Canadian sample of older individuals living with MS, (2) to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with poor sleep, and (3) to investigate the potential impact of possible sleep-promoting and sleep-interfering medications.

METHOD: This study is a secondary analysis of sleep and related variables from the Canadian survey of health, lifestyle, and aging with multiple sclerosis study. The survey consists of 743 Canadians 55 years or older with a diagnosis of MS. We asked participants, "In the past 2 weeks, how much have you been bothered by problems sleeping?"

RESULTS: Overall, 43% of patients with MS reported problems sleeping. The strongest associations were found between poor sleep and number of comorbidities, clinically significant anxiety, and a greater perceived impact of physical symptoms of MS on functioning.

CONCLUSION: Sleep problems are prevalent in individuals with MS. Individuals who had clinically significant levels of anxiety were roughly two times more likely to have trouble sleeping when compared to individuals without anxiety. Efforts should focus on early identification and effective interventions for poor sleep in individuals living with MS.