Sleep disturbance is associated with neck pain: a 3-year longitudinal study after the Great East Japan Earthquake

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 459
• Main Authors: Yabe, Yutaka, Hagiwara, Yoshihiro, Sekiguchi, Takuya, Sugawara, Yumi, Tsuchiya, Masahiro, Yoshida, Shinichirou, Tsuji, Ichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 16.05.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Age; Care and treatment; Causes of; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Disasters; Earthquakes; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Longitudinal Studies; Mental disorders; Musculoskeletal diseases; Natural disaster; Natural disasters; Neck; Neck pain; Neck Pain - complications; Neck Pain - diagnosis; Neck Pain - epidemiology; Pain; Physical condition; Risk factors; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep disturbance; Sleep Wake Disorders - complications; Sleep Wake Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Social isolation; Social networks; Survey; Survivors; The Great East Japan Earthquake; Validity; Vitamin E; Japan; Neck pain; Sleep disturbance; Survey; Physical condition; Psychological distress; Mental health; Natural disaster; Social network; Economic status; The Great East Japan Earthquake
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05410-w

Neck pain is a common health problem in the general population as well as in people after natural disasters. Sleep disturbances are gaining attention as risk factors for musculoskeletal pain; however, the association between sleep disturbance and neck pain has not been clarified. The present study aimed to clarify the association between sleep disturbance and neck pain, especially focusing on the effect of the duration of sleep disturbance, after the Great East Japan Earthquake. This study used 3-year longitudinal data obtained from individuals (n = 2,059) living in disaster-affected areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Sleep disturbance and neck pain were investigated at 4, 5, 6, and 7 years after the disaster. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for the assessment. Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with neck pain, and the association was stronger as the duration of sleep disturbance increased (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]: 1.84 [1.23-2.75] for " < 1 year"; 2.41 [1.53-3.81] for " ≥ 1 year and < 2 years"; 2.80 [2.09-3.76] for " ≥ 2 years"). Furthermore, preceding sleep disturbance was significantly associated with the onset of neck pain, and the association was stronger as the duration of sleep disturbance increased (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]: 1.86 [1.08-3.20] for " < 1 year"; 2.39 [1.22-4.70] for " ≥ 1 year and < 2 years"; 3.00 [1.94-4.65] for " ≥ 2 years"). Sleep disturbance is associated with neck pain, and long-lasting sleep disturbance strengthens the association. Clinicians should consider this association to effectively treat patients with neck pain, especially those affected by natural disasters.