Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to pain and stiffness. One of the most debilitating symptoms reported by individuals with AS is fatigue, which can significantly impair quality of life. While inflammation and pain are often cited as primary contributors to this fatigue, an often-overlooked factor is sleep fragmentation. Understanding the interplay between sleep disturbances and AS fatigue is crucial for effective management of the condition.

Understanding Sleep Fragmentation

Sleep fragmentation refers to the disruption of sleep architecture, characterized by frequent awakenings or shifts between different stages of sleep. Unlike sleep deprivation, where the total amount of sleep is reduced, sleep fragmentation affects the quality of sleep, preventing individuals from reaching the deeper, restorative stages. This can result in non-restorative sleep, where individuals wake feeling unrefreshed despite adequate sleep duration.

In the general population, fragmented sleep is known to impair cognitive function, mood, and overall well-being. It has been linked to increased levels of inflammato...