Central sensitization and its relationship with health profile in Behçet's disease

A longitudinal study of perceived social position and health-related quality of life

BACKGROUND

A large body of evidence suggests that there is a social gradient in the association between perceived social position and various health outcomes. Yet only a fraction of this research uses longitudinal data, and these studies usually rely on two data points in time, consider a single health outcome measure, overlook non-linear effects of perceived social position, and come almost exclusively from the Western welfare democracies.

METHODS

Using data for 1921 individuals from three waves (2008, 2013, 2018) of the Polish Panel Survey (POLPAN), we fit between- and within-individuals hybrid-effects models with cluster-robust standard errors to investigate the association between one's perceived social position (self-placement on a socioeconomic hierarchy scale varying 1 to 10) and subsequent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and its six components.

RESULTS

We find that the association between perceived social position and health-related quality of life is larger when estimated between individuals than within individuals, yet in fixed- and hybrid-effects models perceived social position remains significantly and negatively linked with both the aggregated NHP measure as well as with its components such as emotional reaction, physical abilities, sleep, and social isolation. We also identify that starting to perceive oneself at the lower end of the social hierarchy is associated with a deteriorating health-related quality of life but a change at the top of the perceived social hierarchy is not linked with an improvement in NHP scores.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide new evidence on the significant and non-linear links between perceived social position and health-related quality of life and highlight possible pathways linking these two aspects of individuals' lives.

Effect of Central Sensitization in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever, Axial Spondyloarthritis, and Both Diseases

OBJECTIVE

Our aim in this study was to evaluate the level of central sensitization (CS) in patients having familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and both diseases (axSpA/FMF).

METHODS

This study included 30 FMF, 30 axSpA, 30 axSpA/FMF patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The presence of CS was investigated by the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) questionnaire. In order to evaluate the effect of CS on patient groups, clinical features, disease activity, quality of life, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety frequency were examined. The patients were divided into groups according to the presence and severity of CS and their results were compared.

RESULTS

The mean age of all participants was 28.4±5.7 years and 67 (55.8%) of them were male. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) value was significantly higher in axSpA and axSpA/FMF groups than in FMF and HCs groups (p<0.001). ESR value was significantly higher in the FMF group than in the HCs group (p<0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) value was significantly higher in the axSpA/FMF group than in the axSpA and HCs groups (p=0.001). CSI-Part A value was significantly higher in the axSpA, FMF, and axSpA/FMF group than in the HCs group (p<0.001). CSI-Part A value did not differ significantly between axSpA/FMF, axSpA, and FMF groups (p>0.05). The presence of chronic fatigue syndrome was found to be significantly higher in the FMF group than in the axSpA and HCs groups (p<0.05). Fibromyalgia syndrome was significantly higher in the axSpA/FMF group than in the axSpA, FMF, and HCs groups (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the CS score was found to be significantly higher in axSpA and FMF patients compared to the HCs group. There was no difference between the disease groups in terms of CS score.

The relationship between central sensitization and disease activity, quality of life, and sleep quality among patients with axial spondyloarthritis

BACKGROUND

Central sensitization (CS) has been held responsible in previous studies for persistent pain and persistently high disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Sleep disturbance is also regarded as an important problem for patients with axSpA.

AIMS

This study determines the CS levels of patients with axSpA compared to healthy controls (HC) and investigates its relationship with disease activity, quality of life (QoL), and sleep quality.

METHODS

Eighty-two patients with axSpA (group 1: mean age 38.83 ± 10.11 (76.8%male)) and 40 healthy volunteers (group2: mean age 38.58 ± 7.48 (77.5%male)) were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Evaluation parameters were visual analog scale (VAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-CRP), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Also, participants were divided into subgroups as CSI < 40 and CSI ≥ 40. Groups were compared to themselves. A correlation between the patients' CSI scores and other evaluation parameters was examined.

RESULTS

CS rates were 45.1% and 7.5% for axSpA and HC, respectively (p < 0,001). The frequency of severe forms of CS was higher in patients with axSpA than in the healthy controls (p < 0.05). AxSpA patients with CS exhibited significantly higher pain, MASES, BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, and PSQI scores than axSpA patients without CS (p < 0.05). A close relationship between CS severity and the female gender, pain, disease activity, sleep quality, and QoL was found among axSpA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical CS is common among axSpA patients. CS adversely affects disease activity, pain, sleep quality, and QoL of axSpA patients. CS should be considered when planning axSpA treatment.

Sleep quality in Behçet's disease: a systematic literature review

Behçet's Disease (BD) can be correlated with sleep impairment and fatigue, resulting in low quality of life (QoL); however, a comprehensive evaluation of this issue is still missing. We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) of existing evidence in literature regarding sleep quality in BD. Fifteen papers were included in the SLR. Two domains were mainly considered: global sleep characteristics (i) and the identification of specific sleep disorders (ii) in BD patients. From our analysis, it was found that patients affected by BD scored significantly higher Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) compared to controls. Four papers out of 15 (27%) studied the relationship between sleep disturbance in BD and disease activity and with regards to disease activity measures, BD-Current Activity Form was adopted in all papers, followed by Behçet's Disease Severity (BDS) score, genital ulcer severity score and oral ulcer severity score. Poor sleep quality showed a positive correlation with active disease in 3 out of 4 studies. Six papers reported significant differences between BD patients with and without sleep disturbances regarding specific disease manifestations. Notably, arthritis and genital ulcers were found to be more severe when the PSQI score increased. Our work demonstrated lower quality of sleep in BD patients when compared to the general population, both as altered sleep parameters and higher incidence of specific sleep disorders. A global clinical patient evaluation should thereby include sleep assessment through the creation and adoption of disease-specific and accessible tests.

Central sensitisation in primary Sjögren Syndrome and its effect on sleep quality

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the presence and frequency of central sensitisation (CS) in primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) and to determine the effect of CS on sleep quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 50 patients diagnosed with pSS between the ages of 18 and 75 were included. The healthy control group was composed of 43 healthcare workers. Each participant underwent a physical examination, and demographic data and the medications they used were recorded. Central sensitisation inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires were filled in to garner data on CS and sleep quality, respectively, from all participants.

RESULTS

While central sensitisation inventory  >40 was detected in 74% of pSS patients, it was 25.6% in healthy controls, and there is a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < .05). A correlation analysis of the central sensitisation inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index values of all participants revealed a statistically significant correlation between all parameters other than the duration of sleep (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

CS was found to have a negative effect on sleep quality in patients with pSS. We suggest that the cause of widespread pain seen in patients with pSS as the possible development of CS should be considered.

A Contemporary Review of Behcet's Syndrome

Behcet's syndrome (BS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory vasculitis with a wide range of clinical manifestations including recurrent oral and genital ulcers; cutaneous lesions; and ophthalmic, neurologic, and gastrointestinal involvement. BS has a global distribution but is particularly prevalent in so-called Silk Road populations. Disease onset is usually around the third or fourth decade of life, and the sex ratio is roughly 1:1. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the etiology of BS, although the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. At present, there is no laboratory examination with diagnostic value for BS; therefore, a diagnosis is made based on clinical manifestations. The International Study Group diagnostic criteria published in 1990 is the most widely used and recognized, but in order to improve sensitivity, the International Criteria for Behcet's Disease is developed in 2014. Evaluating disease activity in BS is an important basis for treatment selection and monitoring, the simplified Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (2006 version) is a well-established scoring method. Given that multiple organs are affected in BS, it must be differentiated from other diseases with similar manifestations or that may be induced by drug treatment. The goal of BS treatment is to eradicate triggers and/or aggravating factors, alleviate and control clinical symptoms, prevent and treat any damage to organs, slow disease progression, and improve the patient's quality of life. The clinical management of BS depends on the affected organs and disease severity. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of BS pathogenesis and therapeutic options.