Study: Night Sweats

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Night Sweats Unexpectedly Common by Arnold Mann, Family Pratice News

AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Night sweats are surprisingly common among

patients in primary care, Dr. Mold reported at the annual meeting of the

North American Primary Care Research Group.

He reported findings from a survey conducted at about 40 primary care

centers affiliated with research networks in Oklahoma and Texas.

Consecutive adult patients were surveyed during two 1-week periods in the

summer and winter of 1999.

Of 2,041 patients, 41% said " yes " when asked, " Do you sweat excessively at

night, even when it's not too warm in your bedroom? " Among those asked the

follow-up question, " Do you also sweat excessively during the daytime? " 22%

said " yes. "

Only 54% of patients with severe night sweats (enough to cause soaked

bedding) and 29% of those with both severe night sweats and day sweats

had reported it to their physicians, added Dr. Mold, professor of family and

preventive medicine and director of family medicine research at the University

of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.

Night and day sweats were linked to higher weight, younger age, chronic

infection, hot flashes, and use of antihistamines, benzodiazepines, selective

serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or multivitamin and

mineral supplements.

Pure night sweats were associated with hot flashes and use of exogenous

progesterone or multivitamins. In men and in older subjects, pure night

sweats tended to be linked to sleep problems. " Night sweats maybe a clue to

sleep disorders, " he said. " I was surprised that older patients were the least

likely to have night sweats. "

The associations seen in this cross-sectional study may not be causal, he

noted.

When evaluating a patient complaining of night sweats, the first question to

ask is, " Do you sweat excessively during the daytime? " The answer provides

a clue to etiology since pure night sweats tend to have different causes than

night-and-day sweats, Dr. Mold said.

" In addition to hot flashes, consider progesterone and antidepressants in

women and sleep disorders in men and older patients, " he advised.

Progesterone use was associated with night sweats even after controlling for

hot flashes and estrogen use.