Sleep disorders in cancer patients: A missing symptom
PO-1085
Abstract
Sleep disorders in cancer patients: A missing symptom
Authors: Nejla Fourati1, Najla Attia2, Balkis Ben Ali1, Fatma Dhouib1, Wicem Siala1, Wafa Mnejja1, Jamel Daoud1
1Habib Bourguiba Hospital Faculty of Medicine University of Sfax, Radiotherapy Department, Sfax, Tunisia; 2Habib Bourguiba Hospital Faculty of Medicine University of Sfax, Radiotherapy Department , Sfax, Tunisia
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Purpose or Objective
Sleep disorders can reach up to 50% of patients. However, they are often not evaluated in clinical routine.
This study aims to explore sleep disorders in patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Material and Methods
Thirty patients with various types of cancers were interviewed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer during the radiotherapy treatment course. The median age was 51.8 years [19-91] with a sex ratio of 1. The most frequent localizations were Nasopharynx (7 patients; 23.3%), Breast (6 patients; 20%), and Lung (6 patients; 20%). Seventeen patients (56,7%) were housed at home at the time of the questionnaire. Most patients had good general condition with a mean Kranfoskey performance status (KPS) of 85% [50-100%]. Eight patients (26.6%) already had sleep disorders before diagnosis. Eleven patients (36.7%) had surgery and 23 (76.7%) had chemotherapy.
Fisher exact test was performed to compare patients with or without sleep disorders regarding these different parameters: Sex; Surgery; Chemotherapy; Hosting; Physical concerns; Emotional concerns; Social concerns; Practical concerns; Spiritual concerns.
Results
Thirteen patients (43.3%) had sleep disorders.
None of the factors studied were associated with sleep disorders (Table).
| Sleep disorders (Yes) | p |
Male Female | 50% 50% | 1 |
Surgery No surgery | 37.5% 62.5% | 1 |
Chemotherapy No chemotherapy | 75% 25% | 1 |
Hosting one Home Another hosting | 37.5% 62.5% | 0.24 |
Physical concerns No physical concerns
| 62.5% 37.5% | 1 |
Emotional concerns No emotional concerns | 85.5% 15.5% | 0.09 |
Social concerns No social concerns
| 50% 50% | 1 |
Practical concerns No practical concerns
| 62.5% 37.5% | 0.68 |
Spiritual concerns No spiritual concerns
| 37.5% 62.5% | 1 |
Conclusion
Sleep disorders are a common problem in cancer patients during treatment.
The evaluation of this disorder must be carried out in our clinical routine given their incidence (43.3%). The absence of pre-predictive factors for the occurrence of these suggests the necessity to assess them for all patients. A better assessment of factors associated with sleep disorders needs the realization of larger series.