Cyclic alternating pattern in non-rapid eye movement sleep in patients with vestibular migraine.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the microstructural features of sleep in patients with vestibular migraine and migraine, and to hypothesize the pathophysiological mechanism between vestibular migraine and sleep disorders.

METHODS

From March 2021 to June 2022, 35 vestibular migraine patients, 35 migraine patients, and 30 controls were collected from the Vertigo Center & Sleep Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The anxiety and depression status, sleep quality, and cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) of the three groups were analyzed and compared using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale, and polysomnography (PSG).

RESULTS

The vestibular migraine group had a higher CAP time (mean 173.64 vs. 122.11, P < 0.001), CAP index (mean 54.25 vs. 37.50, P < 0.001), CAP rate (mean 48.41 vs. 32.31, P < 0.001), CAP sequences (mean 42.60 vs. 29.83, P < 0.001), A3% (mean 45.58 vs. 17.50, P < 0.001) and A2%+A3% (mean 68.87 vs. 38.83, P < 0.001) compared to the control group, with a lower A1 index (mean 16.68 vs. 23.87, P < 0.001) and A1% (mean 31.13% vs. 61.17, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with vestibular migraine have poor sleep quality, thalamic-cortical hyperfunction and active arousal system. In addition, high CAP rate and high A2 to A3 ratio make the sleep structure more fragmented.