Sleep as a predictive factor for the onset and resolution of multi‐site pain: A 5‐year prospective study

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Abstract
Background: Disturbed sleep and pain often co‐exist and the relationship between the two conditions is complex and likely reciprocal. This 5‐year prospective study examines whether disturbed sleep can predict the onset of multi‐site pain, and whether non‐disturbed sleep can predict the resolution of multi‐site pain.Methods: The cohort (n = 1599) was stratified by the number of self‐reported pain sites: no pain, pain from 1–2 sites and multi‐site pain (≥3 pain sites). Sleep was categorized by self‐reported sleep disturbance: sleep A (best sleep), sleep B and sleep C (worst sleep). In the no‐pain and pain‐from‐1–2 sites strata, the association between sleep (A, B and C) and multi‐site pain 5 years later was analysed. Further, the prognostic value of sleep for the resolution of multi‐site pain at follow‐up was calculated for the stratum with multi‐site pain at baseline. In the analyses, gender, age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity and work‐related exposures were treated as potential confounders.Results: For individuals with no pain at baseline, a significantly higher odds ratio for multi‐site pain 5 years later was seen for the tertile reporting worst sleep [odds ratio (OR) 4.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–16.12]. Non‐disturbed (or less disturbed) sleep had a significant effect when predicting the resolution of multi‐site pain (to no pain) (OR 3.96; 95% CI 1.69–9.31).Conclusion: In conclusion, sleep could be relevant for predicting both the onset and the resolution of multi‐site pain. It seems to be a significant factor to include in research on multi‐site pain and when conducting or evaluating intervention programmes for pain.
Funding Information
  • Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research

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