Sleep quality, REM sleep behavior disorder and daytime sleepiness in adults with and without Parkinson's

Abstract

In Parkinson's disease (PD), poor sleep quality and sleep disorders are central part of the non-motor symptoms. The aim was to compare sleep quality (SQ), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among adults with and without Parkinson's disease (PD). A second objective was to know the relationship of SQ and RBD with EDS in patients with PD. Method. sixty adults (38 % women,  mean age 66.7 ± 8.11 years), 50 % with PD diagnosis and 50 % healthy controls, Instruments: Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Sleep Quality Pittsburgh Index and REM Behavioral Disorder Sleep Questionnaire, which was designed for this study. Results. Differences were found in SQ (PD = 9.90 ±4.47 vs Control group = 7.23 ±4.71, t = 2.25, p = .028), and the percentage of cases with symptoms of RBD (PD = 30%, control group = 6.7%, ji² = 5.455, p = .020). No differences were found in EDS (PD = 7.43 ± 5.46 vs Control group = 6.50 ± 5.28, t = .673, p = .504). According to the linear regression analysis, the increase in EDS was not associated with SQ, EDS was only associated with RBD. Conclusion, the PD group presents a poor sleep quality and a higher prevalence of RBD symptoms. EDS did not differ between adults with and without PD. However, RBD was associated with an increase in EDS in the PD group.