Background and aims To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders and the relevant determinants in a cohort of SLE patients.

Methods One hundred patients with SLE were included in the study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Depression, anxiety, quality of life, and fatigue were evaluated by PHQ-9, GAD-7, SF-36, and VAS respectively. The demographic and clinical data were also recorded. SLE disease activity and damage severity were assessed by SLEDAI and SDI respectively.

Results The prevalence of sleep disorders in SLE patients was 42%. Compared with patients without sleep disorders, the ratio of males and married patients, age, the score of SDI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and fatigue were higher in SLE patients with sleep disorders, while the score of SF-36 was lower (p<0.05). Age, SLEDAI, SDI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and fatigue correlated positively with sleep disorders (p<0.05). C3 and the score of SF-36 correlated negatively with sleep disorders (p<0.05). In multiple logistic regression analyses, gender, anxiety, body pain, and energy were the independent determinants of sleep disorders (R2=0.494, P<0.01).

Conclusions Poor sleep quality is common in SLE patients. Gender, age, disease activity and severity, anxiety, depressed mood, and quality of life contribute significantly to sleep disorders in SLE.