Impact of neuropathic pain on sleep quality in earthquake-related peripheral nerve injuries

Abstract

Objective: Natural disasters such as earthquakes often cause sleep disorders in affected individuals. Neuropathic pain seen in traumatic peripheral nerve injuries has been found to be associated with sleep disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of neuropathic pain on sleep quality in patients who sustained peripheral nerve injuries during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023, and were rescued from under the rubble.

Method: The study included 45 earth-quake survivors with electrophysiologically confirmed peripheral nerve injuries, aged 18 and above. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and the presence of neuropathic pain was evaluated using the Turkish version of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression levels were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: Among earthquake victims who suffered peripheral nerve injuries, 31 out of 45 people (69%) were found to experience neuropathic pain. Among the earthquake survivors with poor sleep quality (PSQI≥5), the duration of entrapment under the rubble, the extremity VAS scores, the LANSS scores, and the HADS depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher (p=0.018, p=0.001, p=0.008, p=0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). The LANSS scores had positive, moderately significant correlations with the extremity VAS and PSQI scores (r=0.356, p=0.016 and r=0.486, p=0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: This study shows that the intensity of neuropathic pain due to peripheral nerve injuries is high in earthquake victims has poor sleep quality. There is a need to develop targeted interventions addressing the unique challenges faced by earthquake survivors with peripheral nerve injuries.