Lack of sleep may be associated with transitioning to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), independent of early clinical manifestations of SLE that may influence sleep duration, a recent study found. 436 relatives of SLE patients who did not have SLE themselves at baseline were evaluated again an average of 6.3 (± 3.9) years later. 56 individuals transitioned to SLE (≥4 cumulative American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria). Sleep duration, medication use, and medical history were assessed by questionnaire; ACR criteria were confirmed by medical record review. Researchers found:

• Reporting sleeping <7 hours per night at baseline was more common in those who subsequently transitioned than those who did not transition to SLE (55% vs 32%).
• Those who transitioned to SLE were more likely to sleep <7 hours per night than those who did not transition to SLE adjusting for age, sex, and race.
• This association remained after individual adjustment for conditions and early symptoms that could affect sleep, including prednisone use, vitamin D deficiency, and number of ACR criteria.