Actigraphic Monitoring Of Circadian Rhythms Of Sleep-Wake, Rest-Activity In Human And Disease In Clinical Research Fields

Background: The results of different studies of the menstrual-related sleep changes were inconsistent. The menstrual-related circadian sleep-wake and rest-activity rhythms changes are still uncertain. In present study, using actigraphic monitoring of wrist activity, we investigated the sleep-wake and rest-activity patterns of the normally menstrual cycle healthy women during reproductive life.Objective: To investigate the circadian sleep-wake and rest-activity rhythms during the menstrual cycle of healthy reproductive women in nature life environment.Method: Using actigraphic monitoring of wrist activity and sleep diary, we investigated the sleep-wake and rest-activity patterns of 12 normally cyclic healthy women during reproductive life. All subjects worn the actigraphy in wrist for 4 periods (5-7 days) during a menstrual cycle.(1)phase I : menstrual phase, 1-5 days of menstrual cycle; (2)phase II: peri-ovulation phase, 11-15 days; (3)phase III: early to mid-luteal phase, 18-23 days; (4)phase IV: late luteal phase, 25-28 days. In phase II the ovulation was determined by changes in body basal temperature and every subject was monitored with ultrasonography to help to ensure the phase according to the dimension of dominant follicle and to ensure the presence of a normal genital system.Result: The variables of circadian sleep-wake pattern were similar in the four phases, except an increased tendency of the sleep latency in peri-ovulation phase compared with the early to mid-luteal phase (19 18 vs. 9 6, p<0.10). Concerning thecircadian patterning of rest-activity, the interdaily stability (IS) in menstrual phase was significantly higher compared with the early to mid luteal phase (p<0.05), and the intradaily variability (IV) in peri-ovulation phase has an increased tendency compared with the late luteal phase (p=0.01). In early to mid luteal phase, the M10 onset time was significantly earlier compared with the late follicular/peri-ovulation phase (p<0.05), and the cosinor peak time was significantly earlier compared with the late luteal phase (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results suggest that the phase of circadian rest-activity rhythm is modulated by the menstrual cycle, while the quantity and quality of the rest-activity rhythm have no essential difference. The menstrual cycle have no effects on the circadian sleep-wake rhythm in normally cyclic healthy women.