J Sleep Med.  2024 Aug;21(2):88-97. 10.13078/jsm.240009.

Evaluation of Sleep Patterns and Chronotypes in Spanish Women With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

• Pérez SE
• Hernández LL
• Nuez JLOdl
• El-Hammouti AS
• Cobiella TG
• Rodríguez JCdC
• Pérez MH
• Pérez IMM

• KMID: 2558931
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13078/jsm.240009

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate sleep patterns and chronotypes in Spanish women diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
Methods
A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines was conducted from March 1, 2024, to June 10, 2024, at the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of Tenerife (San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain).
Results
A total of 73 women, with a mean age of 56.15±6.47 years, diagnosed with FMS were enrolled. Bedtime habits and wake-up times showed significant variability, reflecting individual differences in sleep chronotype preferences among the participants. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index revealed a mean score of 11.62±0.92, indicating substantial challenges in sleep quality among participants with FMS. Sleep efficiency was low, averaging 14.86%±0.34%, and there was a significant discrepancy in sleep duration between workdays and free days, with an average difference of 2.0±0.5 h. The participants reported compensatory sleep through an average of two naps per day, each lasting 40 min.
Conclusions
Participants with FMS experienced poor sleep quality, characterized by variability in sleep patterns between workdays and free days, along with significant social jet lag. Low sleep efficiency suggests a prevalent sleep debt, which the participants attempted to mitigate through frequent and extended napping.