Fibromyalgia is an illness characterized by chronic pain and sleep problems. Researches have published a new study that a large proportion of women with fibromyalgia also have sleep-disordered breathing. These findings are based on polysomnograms. These women had poor sleep with many arousals (median arousal index 23), apneas-hypopneas (median apnea-hypopnea index 22), and oxygen desaturations <87% was common in half the patients. Restless legs were detected in polysomnograms among many women who clinically denied it. However, studies are still needed to examine if treatment of the commonly detected sleep apnea will have beneficial effects on symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Shah Ma et al.J Clin Rheumatol. 2006 Dec; 12(6):277-81