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The impact of fibromyalgia syndrome on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in terms of pain threshold, daytime symptoms, anxiety, depression, disease severity, and sleep quality: a polysomnographic study

  • Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article
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Abstract

Background

Current studies have focused on the association of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and obsctructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Results of these studies on the effect of this association have been inconsistent. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of FMS on OSAS regarding sleep quality, pressure pain threshold, fatigue, daytime symptoms, anxiety, and depression, and also to determine the relationship between OSAS severity and FMS.

Methods

In a cross-sectional design, patients diagnosed with OSAS were evaluated in two groups comparing those with and those without FMS. Data on demographics, headache, morning fatigue, and chronic pain duration were collected. Questionnaires including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were completed. Pressure pain threshold, tender points, and polysomnographic data were recorded.

Results

Of 69 patients, 27 were diagnosed with FMS + OSAS and 42 were diagnosed as OSAS only. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in VAS, pain duration, morning fatigue, headache, BAI, tender point count, FIQ and FSS scores, and algometer measurements. All polysomnografic data were compared, and no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the algometer, BDI, BAI, FIQ, and FSS scores when analyzed according to the severity of OSAS.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that FMS has no effect on polysomnographic parameters of OSAS. Headache, daytime fatigue, anxiety, depression, pain duration, and pain intensity are higher while the pressure pain threshold is lower when FMS is present. No correlation was found between OSAS severity and FMS, fatigue, pressure pain threshold, depression, and anxiety.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05367167/date: April 8, 2022.

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Data availability

The data of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey

    B. Cigdem Karacay & F. Tuncay

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Beykent University, Istanbul, Turkey

    T. Sahbaz

  3. Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey

    N. Zerman

Authors
  1. B. Cigdem Karacay
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  2. T. Sahbaz
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  3. N. Zerman
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  4. F. Tuncay
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Contributions

Research concept and design: BCK, FT; collection and assembly of data: NZ, BCK; data analysis and interpretation; TS: writing the article;:BCK, TS: critical revision of the article: NZ, FT; final approval of the article: BCK.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Cigdem Karacay.

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Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee (approval number: KAEK 2022–07/69). This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05367167/date: April 8, 2022). The study was organized in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration, and informed voluntary consent was obtained from all participants before starting the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cigdem Karacay, B., Sahbaz, T., Zerman, N. et al. The impact of fibromyalgia syndrome on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in terms of pain threshold, daytime symptoms, anxiety, depression, disease severity, and sleep quality: a polysomnographic study. Sleep Breath 27, 1473–1479 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-023-02831-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-023-02831-2

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