Sleep disorders features in vertebrogenic pain syndrome

Aim. To assess the frequency and nature of disorders in patients with vertebrogenic pain syndrome.

Methods. Influence of such factors as age, gender and the nature of labor on sleep disorders in patients with vertebrogenic pain syndrome was determined. The sample consisted of 50 people, among whom were university students and patients of neurological departments of Kazan hospitals aged 20 to 80 years, with an equal ratio of men and women. A survey was conducted using questionnaires «Scoring subjective sleep characteristics», «Sleep apnea syndrome», «The Epworth Sleepiness Scale», «Sleep quality assessment», «Visual analogue scale».

Results. Among respondents aged 20-30 years, 15% have sleep disorders, 27% suffer from sleep apnea syndrome, and 15% have increased daytime sleepiness. In the category of 30-50 years, similar results were as follows 50, 25 and 17%, in those aged 50-80 years - 42, 50 and 42%, respectively. Most of the patients with sleep disorders are women and patients engaged in mental labor. Patients were distributed by pain intensity as follows: for persons in age group of 20-30 years incidence of mild, moderate and severe pain was 50, 39 and 11%, in persons of 30-50 years - 8, 59 and 33%, in patients of 50-80 years - 8, 33 and 59%, respectively.

Conclusion. A direct relationship between the severity of vertebrogenic pain syndrome and the presence of sleep disorders, increasing with the patients’ age, was revealed; frequency and systemic manifestations of sleep disorders (sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness, sleep disorders) increases with age; persons engaged in mental labor are more likely to have sleep disorders.