RA affects sleep quality in women

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not only makes working and socialising difficult, it can also negatively affect sleep quality in women, new research indicates.

Approximately 40,000 people in Ireland suffer with rheumatoid arthritis.

According to the study of more than 130 women, 71% of the women reported poor sleep.

However, pain, depression and poor adherence to RA medications also impaired the women’s sleep quality, the researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in the US said.

But the researchers found that treating depression in women with RA may not only improve sleep but may also improve pain and adherence to medications.

The study was presented this week at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

For more information on RA visit irishhealth.com’s special rheumatoid arthritis clinic, in association with Arthritis Ireland. Click on http://irishhealth.com/clin/ra

[Posted: Thu 11/06/2009]