Key Associations Found in the Struggle With Sleep in Lung Transplant Recipients

Gaps exist in the understanding of the etiology of poor sleep quality after lung transplantation. Research Question: What factors are associated with poor sleep quality in lung transplant recipients?

A quantitative, single-site, cross-sectional study used an anonymous survey based on 3 scales. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale with scores dichotomized to poor versus good sleepers based on the cutoff score > 8. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale evaluated symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the Short Form-12 measured health-related quality of life using the mental and physical component scores. Additional self-reported data included demographic and transplant-related variables.

The response rate was 38.4% (61/158), and 52.5% of the sample (32/61) evidenced a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 8, suggestive of poor sleep quality. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that poor sleep was significantly related to symptoms of depression (P < .01), anxiety (P < .01), stressors of hospitalization (P < .05), and treatment of acute rejection (P < .05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that anxiety was significantly associated with poor sleep (odds ratio = 1.34, P < .05).

Poor subjective sleep quality remains prevalent in lung transplant recipients. Individuals with anxiety symptoms were at a greater risk for poor sleep. Guidance for strategies to improve sleep quality requires further in-depth exploration before implementation of interventions.