Pathways of sleep disturbances in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and recommendations for clinical management approaches: A critical review

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease affecting young people. It has a profound impact on their physical, mental and social lives, leading to long-term disability. With the growing awareness of the importance of sleep in all areas of functioning in young people, an emerging literature has drawn attention to the role of sleep in the pathogenesis of JIA. Sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with JIA arise from a wide range of symptoms and pathways, leading to a vicious cycle that exacerbates subclinical inflammation, symptoms and disease progression. Putative factors contributing to sleep disturbances include chronic inflammation, JIA-associated sleep disorders, JIA symptoms (e.g. pain), psychological comorbidities and potential circadian disruption, which may be exacerbated by the transition to adolescence. Here, we review these pathways and advocate key strategies and alternatives for sleep management in young people with JIA in clinical settings. We identify gaps in knowledge and suggest future directions to improve our understanding of JIA sleep disorders, including clinical trials investigating potential strategies to improve sleep health in this young population.

Keywords: Adolescence; Autoimmune disease; Children; Inflammation; Obstructive sleep apnea; Sleep health.