Evaluation of Sleep Disturbances and Depression in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Using the Beck Depression Inventory and Child Sleep Disorder Scale: Relationship with Leukocyte and Neutrophil Counts

TL;DR

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experience more depression and sleep issues, which are linked to lower white blood cell counts.

Contribution

This study identifies a novel relationship between depression, sleep disorders, and leukocyte counts in children with JIA.

Findings

Children with JIA had higher depression and sleep disorder scores than healthy children.

Depression and sleep disorder scores in JIA patients were negatively correlated with leukocyte and neutrophil counts.

Depression and sleep disorders may interact and influence each other in JIA patients.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
•Children with JIA had higher BDI and SDSC scores and SDSC subscales (except SHY) compared to healthy children.•BDI and SDSC scores in children with JIA showed a positive relation with each other and a negative relation with leukocyte and neutrophil counts.

Children with JIA had higher BDI and SDSC scores and SDSC subscales (except SHY) compared to healthy children.

BDI and SDSC scores in children with JIA showed a positive relation with each other and a negative relation with leukocyte and neutrophil counts.

What are the implications of the main findings?
•The risks of depression and sleep disorders should be considered in patients with JIA.•Sleep disorders and depression may trigger each other in patients with JIA.

The risks of depression and sleep disorders should be considered in patients with JIA.

Sleep disorders and depression may trigger each other in patients with JIA.

Background/Objectives: The pathophysiology of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most widespread rheumatologically illness in juvenile period, is shaped by complex interactions between leukocytes and the cytokines they secrete. The aim of this research was to evaluate the severity of sleep disturbances and depression, which are closely associated with many diseases and can negatively impact the course of the illness, in patients with JIA using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) scores and to investigate the relationship between these scores and laboratory findings in patients with JIA. Methods: The research involved 58 children with JIA and 71 healthy children as controls. BDI and SDSC scores of these groups were compared with laboratory findings and correlation analysis were performed. Results: In the JIA group, BDI and SDSC scores, C-reactive protein (CRP), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil, and leukocyte counts, were higher than in the control group, while vitamin D values were lower. A positive relation was determined between BDI and SDSC scores in the JIA group, but no correlation was found in the control group. In the JIA group, both BDI and SDSC scores were found to be negatively related with leukocyte and neutrophil counts. In the control group, the BDI score was determined to be negatively correlated with CRP, vitamin D and RDW levels. Conclusions: Depression and sleep disorders may interact in patients with JIA, and their causal relationship with leukocyte and neutrophil levels should be investigated.