summary: Researchers at National Jewish Health have found that sleep and mood disorders negatively impact asthma control. An analysis of data from 659 asthma patients found a significant interaction between insomnia, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea. People with insomnia were more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea and a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, and had asthma exacerbations more frequently than people without insomnia.
Important points:
- National Jewish Health researchers found a significant interaction between insomnia, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea in asthma patients, leading to higher asthma exacerbation rates and poorer asthma control. I discovered that they are connected.
- Asthma patients with insomnia were more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea, along with a diagnosis of anxiety or depression. And asthma exacerbations are more common.
- Patients with insomnia had a higher average annual worsening of asthma compared to patients without insomnia.
National Jewish Health researchers say underlying mood and sleep disorders can negatively impact asthma control.
Data reveal a significant interaction between insomnia, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea in patients with asthma. This research asthma journal.
“Asthma control, sleep quality, and mood are all important factors that influence an individual's overall quality of life, and our research suggests that there is a strong relationship between all three areas. ,” said Michael Wechsler, MD, pulmonologist and professor of medicine. The Cohen Family Asthma Institute at the National Jewish Health Service and lead author of the paper said in a release. “People with asthma should have their sleep quality checked regularly and the presence of co-occurring mood disorders.”
Mood disorders common in asthma patients with insomnia
For the study, researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 659 adult patients enrolled in the National Jewish Medicine Longitudinal Study. Asthma patients were evaluated based on the presence of concurrent obstructive sleep disorders, mood disorders, asthma exacerbation frequency, and asthma control test scores (ACT). This study demonstrated that asthma patients with insomnia had a significantly increased presence of mood disorders compared to patients who did not experience sleep disturbances.
Poor sleep quality is often associated with asthma, especially if your overall asthma is poorly controlled. Insomnia often overlaps with depression. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between sleep problems and asthma control. However, the interactions between these conditions and mood disorders have not been well studied.
Simultaneous diagnosis and asthma exacerbation
Researchers who reviewed the data found that compared to patients without insomnia, patients with insomnia were more likely to have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in addition to a diagnosis of depression or anxiety. I discovered that it is possible. Patients with insomnia had a higher average annual worsening of asthma compared to patients without insomnia.
“As physicians, it is important to treat asthma comorbidities, such as sleep and mood disorders, in the same way as other conditions that affect asthma management, such as reflux disease, sinus disease, and vocal fold dysfunction,” Wechsler says. doctors said in a release.
Need for further research
Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind the interactions between asthma, sleep, and depression. Researchers say this understanding could lead to guidelines for screening and managing sleep disorders and mental health disorders in asthma patients.
Photo 144081638 © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com
