Sleep disturbances are prevalent in multiple myeloma patients, with 75% exhibiting poor sleep quality or sleep disorders, while exogenous melatonin supplementation did not ameliorate this effect and was associated with worsened PSQI scores in controls.
Multiple myeloma patients had significantly worse global sleep quality compared to age-matched controls.
MM patients showed specific impairments in sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep medication use compared to controls.
Exogenous melatonin supplementation did not improve global sleep quality in MM patients and was associated with worsened PSQI scores in controls.
There was a dissociation between sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, with no significant group differences in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores.
The study establishes poor sleep quality as a prevalent disease feature of multiple myeloma.
This research suggests that people living with multiple myeloma (MM), a type of blood cancer, commonly experience poor sleep. In this study, three out of four MM patients had poor sleep quality or sleep disorders when measured using a standardized questionnaire called the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Compared to healthy people of similar age, MM patients took longer to fall asleep, slept for shorter durations, and were more likely to use sleep medications. This is notable because it is the first study to systematically document sleep problems specifically in this cancer population. Interestingly, the study also found that taking melatonin — a supplement commonly used to help with sleep — did not improve overall sleep quality in MM patients. In fact, melatonin was associated with worse sleep scores in the healthy control group, suggesting it may not be a straightforward solution for sleep problems in this context. The researchers also found that despite their worse sleep quality, MM patients did not report feeling significantly sleepier during the day compared to healthy controls, which is an unexpected disconnect between nighttime sleep problems and daytime functioning. This research suggests that sleep problems are a common and under-recognized part of life with multiple myeloma, but that simply adding melatonin may not be sufficient to address them. The findings highlight a need for more research into tailored, evidence-based approaches to managing sleep disturbances in MM patients, potentially including strategies that account for the body's natural biological clock (chronotherapy).
Fiori M, de Azevedo E, Rodrigues L, Turt K, Bruschi D, Lima M. (2026). Sleep quality and sleepiness in adults with multiple myeloma. Is melatonin a potential treatment?. Physiological reports. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70805