Associations between multimorbidity burden and objective and patient-reported sleep outcomes among people with HIV

Background: We aimed to provide insights into the effects of comorbidities on sleep health in people with HIV by assessing associations between multimorbidity patterns and sleep outcomes in the Pharmacokinetic and clinical Observations in PeoPle over fiftY (POPPY) sub-study.

Methods: Principal component analysis identified six multimorbidity patterns among participants with HIV (n = 1073) at baseline: cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), sexually transmitted diseases, metabolic, mental/joint, neurological and cancer/other. Burden z scores were calculated for each individual/pattern. A subset of 478 participants completed sleep assessments at follow-up, including questionnaires [Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance (SD) and Sleep Related Impairment (SRI)] and overnight oximetry [4% oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and percentage of time with oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90%). Multivariable regression assessed associations between burden z scores and sleep measures.

Results: Amongst 309 participants [median (interquartile range) age 53 (47-59) years], 21% had insomnia (ISI ≥15). Higher Mental/Joint z scores were associated with increased odds of insomnia [aOR 1.06 (95% CI 1.03-1.09)] and worse PROMIS-SRI [1.34 (1.22-1.48)] and PROMIS-SD [1.27 (1.16-1.39)] scores. Higher metabolic and neurological z scores were associated with worse PROMIS-SRI scores (P < 0.01). Higher CVDs z scores were associated with worse ISI and PROMIS-SRI scores, and a higher percentage of time with SpO2 below 90% (all P's < 0.01).

Conclusion: This study is among the first to describe specific multimorbidity patterns linked to poorer sleep outcomes in people with HIV. Findings suggest the need for targeted sleep interventions based on multimorbidity profiles, which may mitigate broader health risks associated with poor sleep.