Monday, November 3, 2003

This presentation is part of : Accepted Posters

Sleep Disturbances and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Lung and Colorectal Cancer

Catherine I. Vena, RN, MSN1, Kathy P. Parker, PhD, RN, FAAN1, Rebecca Allen, PhD2, Donald L. Bliwise, PhD3, Sanjay R. Jain, MD, PhD4, and Laura P. Kimble, PhD, RN1. (1) Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA, (2) Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, (3) Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA, (4) Department of Hematology/Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
Learning Objective #1: n/a
Learning Objective #2: n/a

OBJECTIVE: Since few studies have specifically focused on the impact of sleep quantity and quality on the quality of life (QOL) of advanced cancer patients, we are examining these variables in a cohort of patients with late-stage malignancy.

DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational.

SAMPLE: Fourteen stage IV colorectal (n = 7) or lung cancer (n = 7) outpatients (mean ± SD age 52.6±12.68, range 28-69) who were cognitively intact, had no history of a sleep, neurologic, mood, anxiety or psychotic disorder, or known cerebral metastases.

METHODS: Sleep variables (total sleep time – TST, subjective sleep quality) were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; score of >=5 indicates sleep disturbance). QOL variables, measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, version 2 (SF36v2), included two summary and eight domain scores (population norm 50): physical composite, mental composite, physical function, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social function, role emotional and mental health.

FINDINGS: Averages for sleep variables were: TST 7.1±1.11 hours and PSQI global sleep quality 7.5±3.2. Thirty-six percent reported less than 7 hours nocturnal sleep and 79% had a PSQI >= 5. Average QOL composite and domain scores ranged from 42.60-54.58; 14-71% of subjects scored below the norm across categories. Bivariate correlations (Spearman’s rho) indicated that TST was positively associated with the mental composite score (r=0.52, p=.05). Higher PSQI scores were associated with lower physical function (r=-0.55, p=.04), vitality (r=-0.52, p=.05), social function (r=-0.55, p=.04) and mental health (r=-0.679, p=.008) scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced lung and colorectal cancer have poor nocturnal sleep quantity and quality that may be related to reductions in several QOL domains.

IMPLICATIONS: As we enroll additional subjects, we will be able to further explore and characterize the association between self-reported quantity and quality of sleep and QOL in this population.

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