Self-reported sleep quality in women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of sleep in women with endome- triosis. DESIGN: Participation to this cross-sectional study was offered to women referred to an academic centre for the diagnosis and treatment of endometri- osis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included women of reproduc- tive age with histological diagnosis of endometriosis suffering pain symp- toms. Sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness were assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), respectively. The intensity of pain symptoms was assessed using a vi- sual analogue scale. The endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30) question- naire was used to assess quality of life (QoL). Data were analyzed using Sigma Stat software version 3.5. RESULTS: Of the 113 consecutive women approached for the study, 104 accepted to participate, yielding a response rate of 92.0%. The mean (` SD) age of the study population was 33.9 (` 6.2) years. The prevalence of poor sleep quality (total PSQI score > 5) was 63.8% (37/58; 95% C.I., 50.1%- 76.0%). Poor sleep quality was largely expressed as experiencing extended sleep latency period, poor subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness. No correlation was observed between sleep quality, severity of pain symptoms, history of infertility and use of hormonal thera- pies. Sleep quality was correlated to QoL (p < 0.01). The mean (` SD) ESS score was 6.4 (` 3.3); the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (cut-off score>10) was 24.1% (14/58; 95% C.I., 13.9%-37.2%). CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of women with endometriosis are affected by poor sleep quality.