Sleep quality as a mediator of the relation between depression and pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Chronic pain and depression represent two global health problems with considerable economic consequences. Although existing literature reports on the relation between depression and pain conditions, meta-analytic evidence backing the mediating role of sleep disturbance as one of the main...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Karimi, Roya, Mallah, Narmeen, Scherer, Ronny, Rodríguez Cano, Rubén, Takkouche, Bahi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repositorio:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/43758
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43758
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:chronic pain
depression
meta-analysis
pain
sleep
structural equation modelling
3210 Medicina preventiva
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Chronic pain and depression represent two global health problems with considerable economic consequences. Although existing literature reports on the relation between depression and pain conditions, meta-analytic evidence backing the mediating role of sleep disturbance as one of the main symptoms of depression is scarce. To examine the extent to which sleep disturbance mediates the depression–chronic pain association, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations of chronic pain, depression, and sleep quality. Methods: We systematically searched for literature in MEDLINE and other relevant databases and identified cohort and case–control studies on depression, sleep disturbance, and chronic pain. Forty-nine studies were eligible, with a total population of 120 489 individuals. We obtained direct and indirect path coefficients via two-stage meta-analytic structural equation modelling, examined heterogeneity via subgroup analyses, and evaluated primary studies quality. Results: We found a significant, partial mediation effect of sleep disturbance on the relation between depression and chronic pain. The pooled path coefficient (coef.) of the indirect effect was 0.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.05) and accounted for 12.5% of the total effect of depression on chronic pain. This indirect effect also existed for cohort studies (coef. 0.02; 95% CI: 0.002–0.04), European studies (coef. 0.03; 95% CI: 0.004–0.05), and studies that adjusted for confounders (coef. 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01–0.09). Conclusions: Sleep disturbance partially mediates the association between depression and pain. Although plausible mechanisms could explain this mediation effect, other explanations, including reverse causation, must be further explored.