Sleep quality predicts quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Purpose

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients may suffer from poor sleep and health-related quality of life. We hypothesized that disturbed sleep in COPD is correlated with quality of life.

Methods

In 180 patients with COPD (forced expired volume in 1 second [FEV ₁] 47.6 ± 15.2% predicted, 77.8% male, aged 65.9 ± 11.7 years), we administered general (Health Utilities Index 3) and disease-specific (St George’s Respiratory) questionnaires and an index of disturbed sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index).

Results

Overall scores indicated poor general (Health Utilities Index 3: 0.52 ± 0.38), disease- specific (St George’s: 57.0 ± 21.3) quality of life and poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh 11.0 ± 5.4). Sleep time correlated with the number of respiratory and anxiety symptoms reported at night. Seventy-seven percent of the patients had Pittsburg scores >5, and the median Pittsburgh score was 12. On multivariate regression, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was an independent predictor of both the Health Utilities Index 3 and the St George’s scores, accounting for 3% and 5%, respectively, of the scores. Only approximately 25% of the patients demonstrated excessive sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale >9).

Conclusions

Most patients with COPD suffer disturbed sleep. Sleep quality was correlated with general and disease-specific quality of life. Only a minority of COPD patients complain of being sleepy.

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis

Journal ID (publisher-id): International Journal of COPD

Title: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Publisher: Dove Medical Press

ISSN (Print): 1176-9106

ISSN (Electronic): 1178-2005

Publication date Collection: 2011

Publication date (Print): 2011

Publication date (Electronic): 22 December 2010

Volume: 6

Pages: 1-12

Affiliations

[1 ] Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA

[2 ] Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beersheba, Israel

[3 ] Guilford Glazer School of Business and Management, Ben Gurion University, Beersheba, Israel

[4 ] Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA; The study was performed at the Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel

Author notes

Correspondence: Steven M Scharf, Sleep Disorders Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Maryland, 685 West Baltimore Street, MSTF 800, Baltimore, MD 21201-1192, USA, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email sscharf@ 123456medicine.umaryland.edu

[*]

Drs Scharf and Maimon contributed equally to this manuscript.

Article

Publisher ID: copd-6-001

DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S15666

PMC ID: 3034286

PubMed ID: 21311688

Copyright statement: © 2011 Scharf et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.

License:

This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.

Categories

Subject: Original Research