Sleep quality and predicting factors among patients undergoing hemodialysis: A descriptive cross sectional study

Many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis encounter sleep disturbances. This study aimed to assess the quality of sleep and identify the factors predicting it among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. The study was carried out in the hemodialysis unit at Zagazig University Hospitals. A convenient sample of 81 patients who were receiving hemodialysis was selected. Data collected by using Patient Interview Questionnaire, Factors Affecting Sleep Pattern Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ANOVA test was utilized for data analysis.

93.8 % of patients exhibited poor sleep quality (PSQI >5). The mostly reported factors that could affect patients' sleep pattern were daytime napping (67.9 %), sharing a room with others (79 %), pruritus (79 %), muscle cramps (79 %), chronic pain (79 %), and feel of weakness (86.4 %). There was a statistical significant relation between sleep quality and comorbidity (P = 0.004), skin problems (P = 0.001). A strong positive statistical significant correlation was found between sleep quality and age, dialysis duration, schedule/week, session/h, health problems, and factors affecting sleep pattern with (P = 0.001). Health problems, education, age, and occupation were statistically significant predictors affecting sleep quality detected by the step wise multiple linear regression.

Sleep quality is poor among the majority of patients. The reported factors that may affect their sleep pattern were daytime napping, sharing a room with others, skin itching, muscle cramps, persistent pain, and feel of weakness. The predicting factors affecting sleep quality were health problems, education, age, and occupation.