Rheumatoid arthritis shows link to poor sleep among women

NEW YORK Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can negatively affect women’s sleep, according to a recent study.

Results indicated that length of time since rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, level of pain, depression symptoms and adherence to medications for rheumatoid arthritis may cause women suffering from the disease to have poor sleep quality.

According to lead author Faith Luyster, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, findings emphasize the need for further research concerning poor rheumatoid arthritis medication adherence and sleep quality.

Sleep disturbances and depression are more prevalent in women in the general population. Results from the study involving 133 women with rheumatoid arthritis were presented on June 10 at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.