Research Summary
Insomnia Affects About 4 in 10 People With Osteoarthritis, Review of 18 Studies Finds
Sleep problems, especially insomnia, appear to be common in people with osteoarthritis, according to a new review of the research. The study was published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in November 2026.
What was studied
Researchers wanted to know how often four sleep disorders occur in people with knee, hip or hand osteoarthritis: insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy. They searched three major medical databases from their start through August 2025 and pooled the results in a meta-analysis. The review plan was registered in advance.
They included 18 studies with 202,847 participants. Most were cross-sectional (12), along with five case-control and three cohort studies. Nine were rated good to very good quality.
Key findings
- Insomnia was the most common sleep disorder, affecting about 42% of people with osteoarthritis.
- Sleep apnea was estimated at about 37%, though the range of uncertainty was very wide (6% to 67%).
- Restless legs syndrome was estimated at about 35%, also with a wide range (10% to 61%).
- No studies reported on narcolepsy.
- Estimates varied with how sleep disorders were diagnosed and who was studied.
What it means for people with knee pain
If knee arthritis is affecting your sleep, you are far from alone. The authors say clinicians should be more aware of sleep problems in osteoarthritis. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, snore heavily, or feel an urge to move your legs at night, it is worth raising with your doctor, because these conditions can often be assessed and treated.
Limitations
The certainty of the evidence was rated very low. Only a small number of high-quality studies were found, results differed widely between studies, and most were snapshot surveys that cannot show whether arthritis causes sleep problems or the other way around. Future studies may change these estimates.
Frequently asked questions
- How common is insomnia in people with knee arthritis?
- This review estimated that about 42% of people with knee, hip or hand osteoarthritis have insomnia, making it the most common sleep disorder studied.
- Does osteoarthritis cause sleep problems?
- The review measured how often sleep disorders occur, not what causes them. Most included studies were snapshots in time, so they cannot show cause and effect.
- What should I do if knee pain affects my sleep?
- Talk with your doctor. The authors call for more clinical awareness of sleep problems in osteoarthritis, and conditions like insomnia, sleep apnea and restless legs can often be assessed and treated.
Sudden severe pain, swelling, or can't bear weight? Seek medical care promptly. In an emergency call 911.