Background: Many patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis therapy suffer from sleep disturbances. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis and to determine the risk factors underlying these disorders.
Patients and methods: A total of 264 patients on maintenance dialysis were enrolled in the study. Demographic, renal, and dialysis data were recorded. Using Personal Professional Interviews, we assessed the presence of the following sleep disorders: insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Moreover, to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances and the possible effect of demographic or clinical data on sleep, we divided our population into two groups: with and without sleep disorders.
Results: The prevalence of sleep disorders was 61.4%. The survey revealed the presence of insomnia (57.6%), RLS (56.4%), and OSAS (21.2%). Insomnia, RLS, and OSAS were significantly associated with inadequate dialysis, hyperphosphatemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Insomnia and RLS were also significantly associated with anemia. Significant independent association was observed between insomnia and both RLS and OSAS as well as between RLS and OSAS.
Conclusion: The survey showed a high prevalence of sleep disruption in dialytic populations. Our data might help nephrologists to deal with patients with uremia with possible sleep disorders.