Assessment of sleep disturbance in lung cancer patients: relationship between sleep disturbance and pain, fatigue, quality of life, and psychological distress

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of sleep disturbance and psychological distress in lung cancer patients. We also examined the association between sleep disturbance and psychological distress, pain, fatigue, and quality of life in the same population.

Method: Fifty lung cancer patients were evaluated. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the Athens Sleep Insomnia Scale (AIS) and psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Quality of life (QOL), pain, and fatigue were assessed employing the European Organization of Research and Treatment Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Results: We observed that 56% of lung cancer patients had sleep disturbance (AIS score ≥6) and 60% had psychological distress (total HADS score ≥11). Patients with sleep disturbance had a HADS score of 14.6 ± 5.8, a fatigue score of 45.3 ± 22.0, and a pain score of 27.2 ± 26.2. In contrast, patients without sleep disturbance had a lower HADS score of 9.9 ± 8.1 (p < 0.05) and a higher fatigue score of 28.5 ± 18.0 (p < 0.01) and a pain score of 8.7 ± 15.8 (p < 0.01). In addition, we found a lower QOL in patients with sleep disturbance (46.3 ± 20.2) than in those without (65.2 ± 20.7) (p < 0.05). We also observed a significant correlation between the AIS, HADS, fatigue, QOL, and pain scores.

Significance of results: Lung cancer patients suffered from combined symptoms related to sleep. Sleeping pills improved sleep induction but were not sufficient to provide sleep quality and prevent daytime dysfunction. Daytime dysfunction was specifically associated with psychological distress. Additionally, the type of sleep disturbance was related to other patient factors, including whether or not they received chemotherapy.

Keywords: Fatigue; Lung cancer; Psychological distress; Quality of life; Sleep disturbance.