Purpose

Patients with Yusho, a condition caused by exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, have diverse mental and physical complaints. However, the relationship between dioxins and sleep disorders has not yet been examined. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate problems associated with sleep among patients with Yusho.

Methods

A total of 140 participants (52.9% men, average age: 67.1 ± 12.2 years) were examined using questionnaires and medical interviews by an expert on sleep medicine. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including blood concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF), which is the major cause of Yusho, were obtained from the results of recent surveys conducted by the Yusho Study Group.

Results

Moderate to severe symptoms of insomnia were present in 51.8% of the patients. The median Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score (PSQI GS) was 8 (interquartile range: 5–11). The prevalence of restless legs syndrome/Willis–Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) was 30.7%; 24.3% of patients had severe RLS/WED (distressing symptoms with a frequency ≥ 1day per week). A higher blood concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (≥72.27 pg/g lipid) and severe RLS/WED were associated with higher odds of a PSQI GS ≥8, after adjusting for covariates (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.84 [1.10–21.25] and 4.15 [1.53–11.28], respectively).

Conclusions

Symptoms of insomnia were frequent, and the prevalence of RLS/WED was high in patients with Yusho. In addition to the presence of RLS/WED, a higher blood concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF was associated with lower subjective sleep quality.

中文翻译：

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充斥二恶英相关化合物的Yusho患者的睡眠障碍：140例系列

目的

因接触二恶英和二恶英类化合物而引起的疾病状态的Yusho患者，其心理和生理症状多种多样。但是，二恶英与睡眠障碍之间的关系尚未得到检验。这项横断面研究旨在调查Yusho患者与睡眠有关的问题。

方法

睡眠医学专家通过问卷调查和医学访谈对总共140名参与者（男性的52.9％，平均年龄：67.1±12.2岁）进行了检查。人口统计和临床特征，包括2,3,4,7,8-五氯二苯并呋喃（PeCDF）的血药浓度，是玉商的主要原因，这是根据玉商研究小组最近的调查结果得出的。

结果

51.8％的患者出现中度至严重的失眠症状。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数整体评分中位数（PSQI GS）为8（四分位数范围：5-11）。腿不安综合症/ Willis-Ekbom病（RLS / WED）的患病率为30.7％；24.3％的患者患有严重的RLS / WED（令人痛苦的症状，每周发生频率≥1天）。校正协变量后，较高的2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF血脂浓度（≥72.27 pg / g脂质）和严重的RLS / WED与PSQI GS≥8的较高几率相关（赔率[95]置信区间百分比]：分别为4.84 [1.10-21.25]和4.15 [1.53-11.28]。

结论

Yusho患者失眠症状频繁，RLS / WED患病率高。除了存在RLS / WED之外，较高的2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF血浓度与较低的主观睡眠质量有关。