The Feasibility of Measuring Sleep and Circadian Characteristics in Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Interest in sleep and circadian research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) is growing; however, few studies have objectively measured sleep or circadian rhythms in people with these conditions. The purpose was to determine the feasibility of the use of wrist actigraphy, electronic sleep/activity diaries, and participant-collected saliva among adults with both active and inactive IBD. We conducted a 10-day feasibility study of adults aged 18 years to 60 years with IBD. We measured sleep and rest-activity rhythms with wrist actigraphy, self-reported sleep/activity using electronic diaries, and participant-collected saliva to compute salivary dim light melatonin onset. All 37 (100%) participants wore the wrist actigraphs, 91.8% (N = 34) participants completed at least 15 of the 18 electronic diaries, and 34 (91.9%) completed the saliva collection. It is feasible to use wrist actigraphy and electronic sleep/activity diaries in adult participants with inflammatory bowel disease.