Grace Godwin, BA

Sleep disturbances are one of the most commonly reported symptoms in indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM, a chronic disease associated to KITD816V driven clonal expansion of mast cells); however, sleep patterns have not been evaluated using standard sleep measures. We set out to describe sleep quality, quantity, and the prevalence of insomnia as well as examine associations of sleep parameters with depression. Self-reported sleep disturbances, insomnia, and depression were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-8, respectively, in 62 adults with ISM receiving care at the BWH Mastocytosis Center. ANOVA and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analyses were used, when appropriate, to determine the association between sleep and depression. Sixty-one percent of participants reported poor sleep quality with 57% meeting the criteria for clinical (19%) or subclinical insomnia (38%). Patients experienced difficulty initiating sleep, nighttime wakening, and early awakenings which are considered risk factors for depression. On average, patients reported mild symptoms of depression. Poor sleep quality and insomnia were associated with higher levels of depression (p < .001), making sleep a highly desirable treatment target. Understanding sleep patterns has implications for not only quality of life but also risk of depression.