Sleep quality and its correlates in renal transplant patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate correlated morbidity measures with poor sleep quality among kidney transplanted patients.

In a cross-sectional study of 125 Iranian kidney transplant patients in 2006, we employed self-administered questionnaires to evaluate the quality of sleep (PSQI), quality of life (SF-36), anxiety and depression, sexual activity, marital relationship, and medical comorbidity. Patients with PSQI score of >5 were considered to be "poor sleepers." Students t-test was used to compare the morbidity measures between the two groups: "poor sleeper" versus "good sleepers."

Seventy-eight (62%) patients were poor sleepers. This group showed a higher total medical comorbidity score (P=.009), more bodily pain, poorer general mental health, and less physical function on SF- 36 (P=.02), less sexual function, and more severe anxiety (P=.02). There was no significant difference between poor sleepers and good sleepers in the mean of other subscores of the SF-36, marital status, and depressive symptoms.

A poor quality of sleep is common after kidney transplantation. This problem is associated with higher medical comorbidity and poorer emotional state. Therefore, more attention should be paid to evaluation of sleep quality in this patient population.