Sleep in psoriasis: A meta-analysis

Objective: Currently, there are discrepant results regarding the quantitative effect of psoriasis on sleep, which may, in part, be attributed to the use of non-standardised questionnaires.Methods: The PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for cross-sectional, case-control or cohort studies that recruited patients with psoriasis and healthy controls and reported data regarding Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the prevalence of sleep disturbance (SD) based on the PSQI, published from inception up to January 2023. Secondary outcomes included scores for the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and risk for restless legs syndrome (RLS). Meta analyses using random-effects models were used for statistical analyses.Results: Fifteen studies including 1274 patients with psoriasis and 775 controls were analysed. A higher PSQI (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 3.397, P < 0.001, I-2 = 84.2%) and a higher risk for SD (odds ratio [OR] = 6.640, P < 0.001, I-2 = 67.5%) were observed in patients with psoriasis compared with controls. Subgroup analyses revealed a greater difference in PSQI score and/or risk for SD between patients with psoriasis and controls in subgroups of psoriatic arthritis, moderate-to-severe psoriasis, shorter psoriasis duration, and younger age. Moreover, patients with psoriasis exhibited higher ISI (WMD = 2.709, P < 0.001) and BDI scores (WMD = 4.565, P = 0.001), and risk for RLS (OR = 4.689, P = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in ESS scores (WMD =-0.229, P = 0.77) compared with controls.Conclusion: Psoriasis was associated with poor sleep quality and higher risk for SD, especially among patients with psoriatic arthritis, severe psoriasis, shorter duration of psoriasis, and younger age. Patients with psoriasis were also more likely to experience insomnia, RLS, and depression.

Automated summary

Psoriasis is associated with poor sleep quality and higher risk for sleep disturbance, especially among patients with psoriatic arthritis, severe psoriasis, shorter duration of psoriasis, and younger age. Patients with psoriasis are also more likely to experience insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and depression.