Sleep disturbance in heart failure: A concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Sleep disturbance is frequently reported in heart failure (HF) patients.
• Multiple factors, including environmental, physical, psychological, and behavioral, contribute to sleep disturbance in HF.
• Existing literature uses "sleep disturbance" broadly for sleep problems in HF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concept of sleep disturbance (SD) in the context of heart failure (HF).
• To develop a clearly defined and distinguishable concept of SD in HF.
• To guide accurate measurement of sleep quality and evaluation of interventions for HF patients.

Main Methods:

• Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was employed.
• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases for articles published between 2000 and 2020.
• Included studies featured original data and were peer-reviewed articles in English, focusing on SD in HF.

Main Results:

• Sleep disturbance in HF is characterized by difficulties initiating, maintaining, and resuming sleep.
• Nocturnal arousals are frequent and linked to HF symptoms, sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, and psychological distress.
• The phenomenon is multifactorial, encompassing a complex interplay of symptoms and comorbidities.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians must assess underlying causes to understand the contextual meaning of SD in HF.
• A precise definition of SD in HF is essential for accurate sleep quality measurement.
• A well-defined concept facilitates the exploration and evaluation of targeted interventions and outcomes.