EEG sleep variables of rheumatoid arthritis patients

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Abstract
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently complain of poor sleep quality and quantity. The purpose of this research was to determine the electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep variables of rheumatoid arthritis patients at different stages of RA disease activity and to compare the EEG sleep variables of RA patients to an age‐ and gender‐matched control group. The subjects included 15 RA patients (11 female and four male) and 12 control subjects (nine female and three male). The sleep data of five RA patients who were in flare were compared with the sleep data of five age‐ and gender‐matched control subjects. Sleep data of ten RA patients who were in a state of nonflare were compared to seven age‐ and gender‐matched control subjects. Data analysis indicated that RA patients in flare had statistically significant lower sleep efficiency scores and had spent more time awake during the night when compared to control subjects. Both RA flare and nonflare groups demonstrated fragmented sleep patterns due to frequent awakenings and frequent sleep stage changes.