Non-respiratory complaints are main reasons for disturbed sleep post lung transplant

• Published in: Sleep medicine Vol. 70; pp. 106 - 110
• Main Authors: Sawhney, Vishal, Seethamraju, Harish, Bourguet, Claire, Hirshkowitz, Max, Bandi, Venketa, Sharafkhaneh, Amir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Insomnia; Poor sleep; Sleep apnea; SF 36; ESS; HRQL; BOS; Sleep apnea; QOL; SDB; Poor sleep; Insomnia; RDI; OSA; IRLSSG; PSQI; COPD
• ISSN: 1389-9457; 1878-5506; 1878-5506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.11.1243

Poor sleep is prevalent in lung transplant recipients and affects quality of life negatively. To improve quality of sleep, it's important to identify the causes of poor sleep. We conducted a survey to identify the reasons for poor sleep quality in the recipients. We surveyed lung transplant recipients (2003–2010) at Baylor College of Medicine/The Methodist Hospital lung transplant center. We used a compilation of questionnaires, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Berlin Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Short Form 36 (SF36). Descriptive analysis was performed on the responses. Of the 167 participants, 54 responded (32.3%) with mean age 60.6 years (SD 9.8), 48% male, and a mean post-transplant body mass index (BMI) of 27 (SD 4.7). The responders reported a long mean sleep latency of 33.2 min (SD 32.5), poor sleep quality (74% with PSQI score > 5), excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 9 in 29%), poor physical QOL with SF36 mean score of 41.3 (SD 9.4), and high risk for OSA (48.2%). About 30% and 72% reported sleep initiation and maintenance insomnia, respectively. The poor sleep quality was due to “getup to go to bathroom” (85%), “cough or snore loudly” (33%), “have pain” (27.8%), and “feel too cold” (27.8%). Furthermore, 5% reported “Can't breathe comfortably” as reason for poor sleep. The recipients reported poor sleep and quality of life. The non-respiratory complaints were important factors for poor sleep. Attention to these factors may help to outline better management strategies to improve sleep in lung transplant recipients. •Subjective poor sleep is prevalent in post lung transplant patients.•Almost half of post lung transplant patients are high risk for sleep apnea.•Initiation and maintenance insomnia are reported frequently by these patients.•Overwhelming majority of these patients reported waking up to go to bathroom as the main cause of poor sleep quality.