Association between Sleep Quality and Musculoskeletal Pain in Patients with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease that significantly impacts quality of life, primarily through pain and disability. Existing research indicates a strong correlation between sleep quality and pain management in OA patients, suggesting that sleep may play a crucial role in modulating perceived pain and overall well-being. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sleep quality and musculoskeletal pain in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets for improving patient outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Lahore teaching hospital, Jinnah Hospital. After obtaining approval from the hospital's ethics committee and informed consent from participants, data was collected using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) from 170 diagnosed osteoarthritis patients of varying ages (18-40 years). The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics for demographic data, and chi-square tests to explore the association between sleep quality and pain levels. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 28.74 (SD = 7.001). Among the participants, 15.3% reported no pain, 10.6% mild pain, 41.2% moderate pain, and 32.9% severe pain. Regarding sleep quality, 35.3% of patients reported good sleep, whereas 64.7% experienced poor sleep. The chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between pain levels and sleep quality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study demonstrated a significant relationship between sleep quality and the severity of musculoskeletal pain among osteoarthritis patients. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving sleep may enhance pain management and thus the overall health status of OA patients.