Behavioral interventions and symptom cluster change in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and insomnia

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and insomnia experience multiple co-occurring symptoms, but no studies have examined symptom cluster change over time in this population.

This study explored longitudinal patterns of symptom cluster profiles for adults with COPD and insomnia and evaluated whether behavioral interventions were associated with changes in symptom cluster profiles.

This study included 91 adults with COPD and insomnia who participated in a randomized trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and COPD education. The pre-specified symptom cluster included insomnia, dyspnea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Latent profile analysis identified participant groups with distinct symptom cluster profiles at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up; latent transition analysis then estimated the probability of group membership change over time. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine whether the interventions were associated with changes in symptom cluster profiles.

Three groups were identified at each of three time-points: Class 1 (low symptom burden), Class 2 (intermediate), and Class 3 (high). Classes 1 and 2 showed less movement to other classes (16 % and 38 %, respectively), whereas Class 3 showed greater transition (64 %). The CBT-I intervention was significantly associated with movement to a lower symptom burden group (Class 3 to 2 or 2 to 1).

CBT-I, with or without COPD education, shows promise as a tailored intervention to reduce symptom burden in the study population. Study findings will facilitate development of interventions to reduce the severity of multiple co-occurring symptoms in people with COPD and insomnia.

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: A Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Co-existing with COPD; Identifier: NCT01973647.