Abstract

Background

Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disorder which is characterized by circadian timing of headache attacks, usually at nighttime, in around two thirds of patients. Patients with CH often report sleep difficulties, though it is unknown whether this is a cause or a consequence of nightly headache attacks.

Objective

In this case-control study we have assessed sleep quality in study participants with CH in cluster bout respectively in remission, compared to a control group of neurologically healthy individuals to investigate the potential connection between sleep and CH.

Methods

Fifty study participants with CH and 42 controls were recruited for sleep assessment. Sleep was recorded using MotionWatch 8 actigraphs (CamNTech) for a period of two weeks. Study participants were instructed to wear the unit during rest and sleep and to fill out a sleep diary daily through the two-weeks period.

Results

Results from actigraphy recordings and sleep diaries suggested that patients with CH spend longer time in bed than controls (CH 8.1 hours vs. Controls 7.7 hours, p=0.03), but do not sleep more than controls (CH 6.7 hours vs. controls 6.5 hours, p=0.3). In addition, CH patients reported increased sleep latency (p=0.003), particularly during, but not restricted to, cluster bouts. Study participants with CH further reported higher levels of stress at bedtime (p=0.01), and they felt less well rested than controls (p=0.001).

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that sleep is negatively affected in CH both in cluster bout and in remission, manifesting in symptoms consistent with insomnia such as prolonged sleep latency and increased time in bed.

Details

Title
Patients with cluster headache show signs of insomnia and sleep related stress: results from an actigraphy and self-assessed sleep study
Author
Ran, Caroline 1 ; Jennysdotter Olofsgård, Felicia 1 ; Steinberg, Anna 2 ; Sjöstrand, Christina 3 ; Waldenlind, Elisabet 2 ; Dahlgren, Anna 4 ; Belin, Andrea Carmine 1 

 Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Cluster Headache, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.4714.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 0626) 
 Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.4714.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 0626); Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.24381.3c) (ISNI:0000 0000 9241 5705) 
 Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.4714.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 0626); Danderyd Hospital, Department of Neurology, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.412154.7) (ISNI:0000 0004 0636 5158) 
 Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden (GRID:grid.4714.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 0626) 
Pages
114
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Dec 2023
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
ISSN
11292369
e-ISSN
11292377
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2852863042
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.