People who have sleep disorders are more susceptible to dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. People who have rheumatoid arthritis have a huge issue with fatigue. Until now, it was unclear whether or not obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, was associated with rheumatoid arthritis. However, let’s take a closer look at more recent research and whether or not there a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune, type of arthritis, which is characterized by symmetric joint pain and joint damage. Moreover, people with rheumatoid arthritis might also experience systemic effects and extra articular manifestations. It is estimated that about 1.5 million people in the USA have rheumatoid arthritis.
Sleep Apnea
One of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders is known as sleep apnea. When a person has this condition, it means that their breathing is interrupted during sleep. As the person experiences a temporary breathing pauses, these episodes might lead to reduced oxygen saturation. Some of the risk factors which are usually associated with sleep apnea include obesity, being a male, upper airway soft tissue abnormalities, advancing age, smoking, menopause, nasal congestion and genetics. There are a number of medical conditions which are known to increase the risk rate of sleep apnea, such as end-stage renal disease, pregnancy, chronic lung disease, congestive heart failure and stroke. Recently, researchers have discovered a connection between rheumatoid arthritis and an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis
In 2016 at the BMJ Open, study results were published, which indicated that the overall incidence rate of obstructive sleep apnea was 75% higher in people with rheumatoid arthritis compared to those without rheumatoid arthritis. The findings from this and other previous studies showed that there is a link between rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea.
The BMJ Open study stated that the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea is higher in men, in older people, and in people with comorbidity. Hence, the risk is usually higher in people who have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and obesity. When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of factors which contribute to the higher risk of sleep apnea, such as micrognathia, cervical spine abnormalities, the involvement of the temporomandibular joint, involvement of the cricoarytenoid joint, and obesity.
It is also believed that the link between cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis may be a result of sleep apnea. As obstructive sleep apnea is closely connected to coagulation, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, these factors are all considered contributing factors.
Treatment Options
The link between rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea may lead to a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality in people who have both conditions. Thus, people who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis should try to identify the signs of sleep apnea and possibly get a home sleep apnea test.
When it comes to the treatment options, you know that sleep apnea is best managed by utilizing CPAP devices. However, as some people find it using CPAP to be bothersome, they can use a specific body position during sleep to keep the airway open, lose some weight or use certain devices to move the mandible forward there by reducing airway obstruction. One thing is for sure, sleep apnea is a serious condition and it should not be ignored.
Hence, if you notice that you are being tired all the time, do not associate this sign only with rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue is one of the most common characteristics and results of sleep disruption and sleep fragmentation.