NEW research reveals that adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are significantly more likely to develop sleep disorders, including insomnia, than those without the disease, a finding that raises important questions for rheumatologists and primary care providers.
In a retrospective cohort study of over 1,800 residents aged 50 and older in Minnesota, investigators tracked 913 patients with RA and 913 matched individuals without RA over a median of 10 to 11 years. The study, which followed patients who met the 1987 ACR criteria for RA between 1980 and 2014, found that sleep disorders developed in 234 individuals with RA compared to 206 in the control group.
Patients with RA faced a 34% increased risk of developing any sleep disorder (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34, 95% CI: 1.11–1.61), with the same increased risk seen specifically for insomnia (HR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.03–1.73).
Risk factors associated with sleep disorders in RA included obesity, dyslipidemia, existing cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and a more recent RA diagnosis year. Interestingly, no link was observed between sleep disorders, whether general or subtype, and the development of dementia in this population.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence connecting chronic inflammation, mental health comorbidities, and cardiovascular risk with disrupted sleep in patients with RA. While dementia was not linked to sleep issues in this study, the clear association between RA and sleep disruption highlights a key area for early intervention and patient education.
As the healthcare community seeks to improve quality of life in aging RA populations, recognizing and managing sleep disorders may offer a valuable and often overlooked clinical opportunity.
Reference: G RJ et al. Sleep disorders in rheumatoid arthritis: Incidence, risk factors and association with dementia. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2025:73:152722.
