Correlates of objective sleep quality in older peritoneal dialysis patients

Sleep disturbance is a prominent concern in dialysis patients and detrimentally impacts clinical and self-reported health outcomes. This study aimed to collect sleep data from in-home actigraphy and to explore possible predictors of sleep quality in older peritoneal dialysis patients.

This was a cross-sectional study. Peritoneal dialysis patients aged ≥60 years participated in this study. For each participant, sleep quality was assessed by analyzing the data produced by an actigraphic device worn on the wrist 24 h a day for seven consecutive days. Physical function was assessed using handgrip strength and the Timed Up and Go test. Depression was assessed using the self-reported Geriatric Depression Scale. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors influencing sleep efficiency and sleep time.

Based on data collected from 50 participants (N = 50, mean age 70.4 years, 70% male), including 333 nights of actigraphy-monitored sleep, the mean sleep efficiency was 75.5%±14.2% and the mean total sleep time 391.0 ± 99.3 min per night. Higher hemoglobin (β = 0.38, p = 0.007) and lower serum phosphorus (β = -0.30, p = 0.042) levels were significant predictors of better sleep efficiency. The only significant predictor of the total sleep time was age (β = 0.32, p = 0.021).

Older peritoneal dialysis patients had poor sleep, characterized by low sleep efficiency. Low hemoglobin and high serum phosphorus levels were predictors of poor sleep efficiency and, as such, modifiable factors for clinicians to consider when treating patients with sleep complaints.