The Role of Sleep Disturbance, Sleepiness, and Fatigue in the Development of Acute and Chronic Neck Pain

Abstract

Background: Many physiological and psychological factors could play a significant role in acute and chronic neck pain, and they may delay the recovery process. Understanding the predictors for acute and chronic neck pain is essential to establishing effective management strategies for this population. Aims: To identify the risk factors for acute and chronic neck pain, to compare the variables (sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and disability) between acute and chronic stage of neck pain, and to examine the gender differences between these variables. Methods: Patients ([Formula: see text]= 436) with acute and chronic neck pain were included. They completed baseline questionnaires to report on the intensity of pain, sleep quality, sleepiness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disability. Results: Data analysis was performed using a linear regression and multivariate analysis of covariance to evaluate the predictors of acute and chronic neck pain, and to compare the study variables between acute and chronic neck pain as well as to explore the presence of a gender bias. Poor sleep quality was the only predictor of acute neck pain. Poor sleep quality, sleepiness, and fatigue were significant predictors of chronic neck pain. Also, the score of these predictors was higher among chronic neck patients compared to acute conditions. Conclusion:Sleep disturbances, sleepiness, and fatigue are important predictors of chronic neck pain. The findings highlight the importance of addressing these factors in the assessment and management of neck pain conditions.