The Association of Insomnia, Perceived Immune Functioning, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complaints

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a significant negative impact on quality of life, mood and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between experiencing IBS symptoms and insomnia, and perceived health status. Method: An online survey was conducted among n = 1950 Dutch university students (83.6% women). IBS was assessed with the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, quality of life with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, and sleep outcomes with the SLEEP-50 questionnaire. Perceived immune functioning and general health were assessed using 1-item scales. Results: IBS symptom severity was significantly associated with insomnia complaints (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (r = −0.21, p = 0.0001), sleep onset latency (r = 0.11, p = 0.0001) and the number of nightly awakenings (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Total sleep time was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity. Significant correlations were also found between IBS symptom severity and perceived general health (r = −0.30, p = 0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r= −0.25, p = 0.0001), and quality of life (r = −0.24, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Experiencing IBS complaints is associated with reduced perceived immune functioning, a poorer perception of general health, and sleep disturbances. These effects are reflected in a significantly lower reported quality of life in subjects with more IBS and/or sleep complaints.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Immune Fitness, and Insomnia: Results from an Online Survey Among People Reporting Sleep Complaints

“…This is reflected in patients reporting poorer sleep quality and less satisfaction with their sleep pattern. The associations were most pronounced for the IBS subscale of pain, which is consistent with the previous research [5]. Disturbed or insufficient sleep for any cause exacerbates pain.…”

“…IBS complaints are related to changes in mucosal barrier integrity and secretion which causes an increased sensitivity of the bowel and changed bowel motility. Several psychological and physiological stressors may impact the severity of IBS complaints [2][3][4], including comorbid disorders such as insomnia [5]. Insomnia is diagnosed in 10-20% of adults and is defined by difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep, early morning awakenings, or poor sleep quality (i.e., non-restorative sleep) [6,7].…”

“…Insomnia is diagnosed in 10-20% of adults and is defined by difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep, early morning awakenings, or poor sleep quality (i.e., non-restorative sleep) [6,7]. Both IBS and insomnia have been associated with daytime impairment and distress, and reduced quality of life [5,8].…”

“…IBS is often associated with disturbed and insufficient sleep [5,9,10]. On the one hand, for example, Lee et al reported that total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, and the number of awakenings at night relate to the severity of IBS symptoms [10].…”

“…Therefore, the association between IBS and insomnia is of a bidirectional nature. In a recent study, the association between sleep complaints and IBS was investigated among 1950 Dutch students [5]. The analysis revealed that IBS symptoms severity was significantly associated with the severity of insomnia symptoms, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, and number of nightly awakenings.…”