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Background Asthma and rhinitis have been related to insomnia. The aim of this study was to further analyse the association between asthma, nasal symptoms and insomnia and to identify risk factors for sleep disturbance among patients with asthma, in a large population-based set of material. Method In 2008, a postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 45 000 adults in four Swedish cities. The questionnaire included questions on insomnia, asthma, rhinitis, weight, height, tobacco use and physical activity. Results Twenty-five thousand six hundred and ten subjects participated. Asthma was defined as either current medication for asthma or at least one attack of asthma during the last 12 months, and 1830 subjects (7.15%) were defined as asthmatics. The prevalence of insomnia symptoms was significantly higher among asthmatics than non-asthmatics (47.3% vs 37.2%, <0.0001). In the subgroup reporting both asthma and nasal congestion, 55.8% had insomnia symptoms compared with 35.3% in subjects without both asthma and nasal congestion. The risk of insomnia increased with the severity of asthma, and the adjusted OR for insomnia was 2.65 in asthmatics with three symptoms compared with asthmatics without symptoms. Nasal congestion (OR 1.50), obesity (OR 1.54) and smoking (OR 1.71) also increased the risk of insomnia. Conclusion Insomnia remains a common problem among asthmatics. Uncontrolled asthma and nasal congestion are important, treatable risk factors for insomnia. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and obesity, are also risk factors for insomnia among asthmatics.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma-related quality of life has previously been shown to be associated with asthma control. The aims of the present study were to further analyze this correlation, identify other variables with impact on asthma-related quality of life, and investigate the covariance among these variables.

METHODS: Information was retrieved from a cohort of 369 patients, aged 12-35, with physician-diagnosed asthma requiring anti-inflammatory treatment for at least 3 months per year. Questionnaire data [including the mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), Asthma Control Test (ACT), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], quality of sleep, lung function data and blood samples were analyzed. Linear regression models with the mAQLQ score as the dependent scalar variable were calculated.

RESULTS: ACT was the single variable that had the highest explanatory value for the mAQLQ score (51.5%). High explanatory power was also observed for anxiety and depression (17.0%) and insomnia (14.1%). The population was divided into groups depending on presence of anxiety and depression, uncontrolled asthma, and insomnia. The group that reported none of these conditions had the highest mean mAQLQ score (6.3 units), whereas the group reporting all of these conditions had the lowest mAQLQ score (3.8 units).

CONCLUSIONS: The ACT score was the single most important variable in predicting asthma-related quality of life. Combining the ACT score with the data on insomnia, anxiety and depression showed considerable additive effects of the conditions. Hence, we recommend the routine use of the ACT and careful attention to symptoms of insomnia, anxiety or depression in the clinical evaluation of asthma-related quality of life.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Both asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are strongly associated with poor sleep. Asthma and OSA also have several features in common, including airway obstruction, systemic inflammation, and an association with obesity. The aim was to analyze the effect of asthma, OSA, and the combination of asthma and OSA on objectively measured sleep quality and systemic inflammation.

METHODS: Sleep and health in women is an ongoing community-based study in Uppsala, Sweden. Three hundred eighty-four women ages 20 to 70 years underwent overnight polysomnography and completed questionnaires on airway diseases and sleep complaints. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α were analyzed.

RESULTS: = .04) than the group with OSA alone. The results were consistent after adjusting for age, body mass index, and smoking status. Asthma was independently associated with lower oxygen saturation, whereas OSA was not.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that coexisting asthma and OSA are associated with poorer sleep quality and more profound nocturnal hypoxemia than either of the conditions alone. The results are similar to earlier findings related to OSA and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but they have not previously been described for asthma.

Background

Insomnia symptoms are common with asthma. The aim of the study was to analyse the associations between insomnia symptoms and asthma control, asthma severity, and asthma‐related comorbidity in a community‐based population.

Methods

Adults (n = 23 875, ages 18‐45) from the community‐based LifeGene study answered a questionnaire on insomnia symptoms, airway symptoms, asthma diagnosis, asthma medication, and asthma‐related comorbidities (chronic rhinosinusitis, gastro‐oesophageal reflux, anxiety, depression, or obesity).

Results

Of the participants, 1272 (5.3%) had asthma. The prevalence of any insomnia symptom was higher in participants with uncontrolled asthma (n = 201) than with controlled or partially controlled asthma (32.2% vs 19.9% and 20.1%, respectively, P < .01). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of insomnia symptoms between subjects with controlled asthma and subjects without asthma. Subjects with asthma and any asthma‐related comorbidity reported more insomnia symptoms (29.0% vs 22.4%, P < .01) compared to asthmatics without comorbidity. Moreover, the prevalence was highest among subjects reporting both uncontrolled asthma and any asthma‐related comorbidity (45.1%, P < .01). Uncontrolled asthma remained significantly associated with insomnia symptoms (OR 1.72 (1.15‐2.56)) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking history, comorbidities, physical activity, and educational level, while medication level was not. Among asthma‐related comorbidities, chronic rhinosinusitis (OR 1.62 (1.20‐2.19)), obesity (1.87 (1.07‐3.25)), and depression (OR 1.85 (1.34‐2.55)) were independently associated with insomnia symptoms.

Conclusion

Uncontrolled asthma was significantly associated with insomnia symptoms, while controlled or partially controlled asthma was not. Asthma‐related comorbidity is of great importance, and asthma control seems to be more important than asthma severity for insomnia symptoms.