Evolution of Sleep Complaints in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The objective was to characterize the progression of sleep complaints in 115 dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients who filled out a sleep questionnaire twice at a 9-year interval. Daytime napping (22.1% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.05), early awakenings (11.4% vs 21.1%, p < 0.05), nonrestorative sleep (39.5% vs 51.8%, p < 0.05), stimulant use (7.0% vs 19.3%, p < 0.01), breathing cessation (10.7% vs 23.2%, p < 0.01), and nighttime urination (42.5% vs 54.9%, p < 0.05) increased between Time 1 and Time 2. Sleep-related complaints are prominent and augment rapidly in DM1 patients. Physicians need to better identify and treat them to help alleviate the burden they impose on patients and their caregivers.