The Combination of Fibromyalgia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by widespread pain accompanied by sleep disorders, affective impairments, chronic fatigue, functional deficiency and emotional disorders. Sleep disorders in FMS patients have been widely reported in literature. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a syndrome characterized by repeated periods of upper respiratory tract obstruction and frequently a reduction in blood oxygen saturation during sleep. To make a diagnosis and define severity with the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), it is necessary to conduct a polysomnography (PSG) study throughout the night. OSAS cases suffer from frequent sleep disruption, are unable to enter the deep sleep phase and cannot physically rest. Therefore, as both OSAS and FMS cases have sleep disorders with symptoms such as a need for daytime sleep and headaches in the morning, it is thought that there may be a relationship between OSAS and FMS. The case is here presented of a 43-year old female FMS patient with symptoms including an 8-year history of widespread pain and fatigue, inability to get up in the mornings, excessive sleepiness during the day and snoring, who was determined with moderate level OSAS as a result of polysomnography examination.