Impact of sleep disorders on cognitive function and overall quality of life in egyptian patients with multiple sclerosis

Background Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to experience sleep disturbances due to risk factors related to the nature of the disease. Objectives To investigate sleep quality in Egyptian MS patients and its relation to disease's characteristics. Additionally, to assess how sleep disturbances can affect cognitive function and overall MS patients' quality of life. Subject and Method A total of 162 cases with definite MS based on McDonald’s criteria were recruited from Kafr Elsheikh Neurology Department in collaboration with Zagazig University. The Expanded disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used and the patients completed reliable and valid Persian versions of the PSQI and MSQOL54 questionnaires. Results Eighty-five percent of patients, especially men, were classified as poor sleepers, with a median score of 7.5 on the Global Sleep Index, which ranged from 0 to 19. Longer disease duration, higher relapse rate, sensory symptoms, sphincteric affection, secondary progression, greater EDSS, and brain stem lesions are all linked to poor sleep quality. As evidenced by MS patients' lower scores on the SDMT and CVLT, inadequate sleep has a negative impact on a number of cognitive domains. Sleep duration and latency, sleep disruption, daytime dysfunction, and global sleep index have all demonstrated negative correlations with physical and mental health. Age, total PSQI disease activity, and disease duration were found to be independent indicators of both physical and mental health by regression analysis. Conclusion When evaluating MS patients, it is essential to consider the impact of their sleep quality on their cognitive function and overall quality of life.