Sleep Quality During and After Cardiothoracic Intensive Care and Psychological Health During Recovery

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) patients often suffer from poor sleep quality, psychological distress, and diminished health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a common reason for ICU admission, yet the impact of surgical approach (on-pump vs. off-pump) on sleep and recovery remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sleep quality in CABG patients during and after ICU stay.
• To assess psychological well-being and HRQOL during recovery.
• To determine if on-pump versus off-pump surgery influences sleep and recovery.

Main Methods:

• Validated self-report questionnaires were administered to 101 CABG patients.
• Data collection occurred during ICU and hospital ward stays, and at 2 and 6 months post-discharge.
• Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with sleep quality.

Main Results:

• 62% of patients reported poor sleep quality at 6 months post-discharge.
• Off-pump CABG was associated with fewer posttraumatic stress symptoms and better physical HRQOL.
• Prehospital insomnia and both physical and mental HRQOL at 6 months were independently linked to poor sleep quality at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative CABG patients exhibit persistent poor sleep quality extending up to 6 months after hospital discharge.
• Prehospital insomnia and impaired HRQOL are significant predictors of long-term poor sleep quality.
• The surgical approach (on-pump vs. off-pump) did not demonstrate an association with sleep quality at 6 months.