Sleep quality and pain in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated sleep quality in relation to pain and pain-related impairment in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. The purpose was to examine whether increased age was associated with poorer sleep quality and pain and to examine the sleep quality-pain association in this age group.

METHODS

Eighty-nine adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease between the ages of 13 and 25 completed ratings of sleep quality, overall pain, and 2 measures of pain-related impairment (pain impact and pain burden) as part of their clinical care. Retrospective chart reviews were completed to match ratings to demographic and medical characteristics. Correlations and multiple regression were used to examine associations between age, sleep quality, and pain variables, including an exploratory analysis of the sleep-pain association by age.

RESULTS

Increased age was associated with poorer sleep quality, worse overall pain, and higher pain burden. Poorer sleep quality was also associated with worse overall pain and pain burden. Using multiple regression, a small, but not statistically significant trend was observed for the interaction of increased age and strengthening of the sleep quality-pain burden association.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality and pain are important challenges for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease that may persist or worsen with increased age. Early identification of these difficulties in pediatric populations as well as continued screening and intervention as adolescents transition into adult care is important. Additional longitudinal research is needed to better understand the progression of the sleep-pain relationship over time.

CITATION

Schlenz AM, Thomas SJ, Gloston G, Lebensburger J, Maxwell SL, Kanter J. Sleep quality and pain in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. . 2022;18(12):2845-2853.