Incidence of Sleep Disturbance and Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Patients Diagnosed with Cancer - Abstract
Introduction: Sleep disorders affect 10-15% of the US population, which has significant implications for quality of life. Oncology patients often experience more prominent detrimental effects of sleep deprivation. Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms, and occurs in 75% ofpatients with cancer.
Methods: Eastern Regional Medical Center implemented a process by which subjective and objective sleep screening assessment is standard practice for all patients new to the center. Patients were provided both a combined sleep questionnaire and an at-home sleep screen device. This device links the physiology of autonomic, respiratory, and mathematically captures electro cortical activity collectively referred to as cardiopulmonary coupling.
Results and Discussion: This retrospective review encompassed a total 1,207 new patients seen between March 2013 and April 2014. They were stratified into three populations having completed: subjective questionnaires, objective screening, and both measures. For the 242 patients who completed the subjective questionnaire, 65% were considered to have a likelihood of sleep disturbance, and 68% of patients reported feeling tired/fatigued/sleepy during the day. The objective screening notes 71% of patients had poor sleep quality. Interestingly for both measures, patients who had poor scores subjectively actually outperformed their counterparts on the objective sleep assessment.
Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of utilizing both subjective and objective assessments for sleep analysis. Assessing sleep with only one of these tools would not provide an accurate account of sleep disturbance. The ability to assess overall sleep quality, as well as low and high frequency coupling has proven valuable in determining further diagnostic testing or evaluations. The contradictions found between subjective, self-reported data and the objective data obtained through the Sleep Image® device suggest other factors may contribute to patients feeling sleep deprived or well rested.