Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disorders, and Fibromyalgia in Chronic Urticaria Patients: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls

Abstract

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a condition characterized by recurrent pruritic wheals that significantly impair quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in CU patients and to compare these outcomes with controls. The study included 161 CU patients and 155 controls with dermatological conditions other than CU. Comprehensive clinical, sociodemographic, and laboratory data were collected, including metabolic syndrome parameters, psychiatric assessments, and sleep quality measures. 68.3% of the CU patients were female. Compared with males, female patients had later disease onset (p=0.002), lower educational levels (p=0.025), and a higher prevalence of thyroid disease (p=0.024), elevated thyroid autoantibodies (p=0.032), and FMS (p=0.028). Compared to controls, CU patients had significantly higher rates of FMS (p<0.001), moderate to severe depression (p<0.001), increased visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores (p<0.001), greater antidepressant use (p<0.001), and poorer sleep quality (p<0.001). Uncontrolled CU, determined by Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7), was associated with higher VAS pain scores (p<0.001), increased FMS prevalence (p<0.001), greater depression rates (p=0.008), and more frequent sleep disturbances (p=0.009). Additionally, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-anxiety scores were significantly lower in omalizumab users (p=0.028), indicating an observed association that may reflect improved disease management rather than a direct treatment effect. Our findings highlight the significant physical and psychological burden of CU, especially in women and patients with uncontrolled disease, and emphasize the importance of considering comorbid conditions such as fibromyalgia, depression and sleep disorders.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Urticaria
• Sleep Disorders

Kronik Ürtiker Hastalarında Anksiyete, Depresyon, Uyku Bozuklukları ve Fibromiyaljinin Yaygınlığı: Kontrol Grubu ile Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Kronik ürtiker (KÜ), tekrarlayan kaşıntılı kabarıklıklarla karakterize olan ve yaşam kalitesini önemli ölçüde düşüren bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, KÜ hastalarında anksiyete, depresyon, uyku bozuklukları ve fibromiyalji sendromu (FMS) prevalansını değerlendirmek ve bu bulguları sağlıklı kontrollerle karşılaştırmaktır. Çalışmaya 161 KÜ hastası ve KÜ dışındaki dermatolojik rahatsızlıkları olan 155 kontrol grubu hastası dahil edildi. Metabolik sendrom parametreleri, psikiyatrik değerlendirmeler ve uyku kalitesi ölçümleri dâhil olmak üzere kapsamlı klinik, sosyodemografik ve laboratuvar verileri toplanmıştır. KÜ hastalarının %68,3'ü kadındı. Kadın hastalarda hastalık başlangıcı anlamlı olarak daha geç (p=0,002), eğitim düzeyi daha düşük (p=0,025), tiroid hastalığı (p=0,024), tiroid otoantikor yüksekliği (p=0,032) ve FMS sıklığı (p=0,028) erkeklere göre daha yüksekti. Kontrol grubuna kıyasla, KÜ hastalarında FMS (p<0,001), orta-şiddetli depresyon (p<0,001), daha yüksek VAS ağrı skoru (p<0,001), antidepresan kullanımı (p<0,001) ve kötü uyku kalitesi (p<0,001) daha yaygındı. Ürtiker Aktivite Skoru (UAS7) ile belirlenen kontrolsüz KÜ, daha yüksek VAS ağrı skoru (p<0,001), artmış FMS prevalansı (p<0,001), daha yüksek depresyon oranı (p=0,008) ve daha sık uyku bozukluğu (p=0,009) ile ilişkiliydi. Ayrıca, omalizumab kullanan hastalarda Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-anksiyete skorları anlamlı derecede daha düşüktü (p = 0.028). Bu durum, doğrudan bir tedavi etkisinden ziyade daha iyi hastalık yönetimini yansıtan gözlemsel bir ilişkiye işaret etmektedir. Bulgularımız, özellikle kadınlarda ve kontrolsüz hastalığı olanlarda KÜ’nün önemli fiziksel ve psikolojik yükünü ortaya koymakta ve fibromiyalji, depresyon ve uyku bozuklukları gibi eşlik eden durumların dikkate alındığı bütüncül bir yaklaşımın gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Anksiyete
• Depresyon
• Fibromiyalji
• Ürtiker
• Uyku Bozuklukları

Supporting Institution

Yoktur.

Ethical Statement

Yoktur.

Thanks

Yoktur.

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