World Sleep Day, an annual event organised by the World Sleep Society, aims to raise awareness of sleep-related issues and promote better management of sleep disorders. This year’s theme, “Make Sleep Health a Priority,” highlights the importance of prioritising sleep for overall wellbeing.
For individuals with ME/CFS, sleep disturbances are a core feature of the disease. Whilst optimising sleep within the constraints of ME/CFS does not cure the disease, poor sleep quality significantly impacts quality of life.
Poor sleep and sleep disorders are major public health concerns, contributing to both individual and societal burdens. Short-term consequences include reduced attention, memory, and learning, whilst long-term effects increase the risk of conditions such as diabetes, weakened immunity, and cardiovascular disease.
Research highlights a correlation between poor sleep quality in ME/CFS correlates with poor quality of life. Despite evidence of sleep dysfunction in ME/CFS, research into its underlying causes remains limited. Many studies use the Fukuda criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which do not consider post-exertional malaise (PEM) – the cardinal feature of ME/CFS – as essential for diagnosis. Nevertheless, these studies provide a foundation for future research.
Some key research areas explored in relation to CFS, include –
- Polysomnography (sleep studies): A considerable number of individuals meet criteria for sleep apnoea and periodic limb movement disorder.
- Autonomic nervous system dysregulation: Reduced nocturnal heart rate variability may contribute to unrefreshing sleep.
- Altered sleep architecture: Studies show reduced slow-wave sleep activity in CFS participants compared to healthy controls.
The NICE guidelines recommend personalised sleep management for ME/CFS, including assessing potential underlying sleep disorders. However, due to limited evidence and lack of consensus, providing definitive guidance remains challenging.
World Sleep Day serves as an opportunity to highlight global sleep issues and emphasise the need for targeted research, particularly into complex diseases such as ME/CFS.
