Sleep quality in renal transplant patients: a never investigated problem.
BACKGROUND
Despite the great prevalence of sleep disorders and the low quality of sleep in patients with renal diseases, to date no study has evaluated these problems in renal transplant patients.


METHODS
The aim of the study was to assess sleep quality (SQ) in 301 kidney graft recipients by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, range 0-21, with higher scores indicating worse SQ), in comparison with PSQI of both patients on haemodialysis (HD) (n = 245) and normal control subjects (n = 169).


RESULTS
PSQI of renal transplant patients averaged 6.46+/-3.71, a value significantly lower than in HD patients (8.52+/-3.81, P<0.001), but higher than in control subjects (3.54+/-1.61, P<0.0001 vs both transplant and dialysis patients). No correlation was found between PSQI and the main biochemical parameters of transplant patients. When the patients were divided into 'good' (PSQI<5) or 'poor' (PSQI>5) sleepers, a significant risk of psychological problems was associated with the condition of 'poor sleeper' (OR: 2.3; P<0.02), with no further correlation detected in either of the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that SQ in renal transplant patients is surprisingly low, despite a well preserved renal function, and that poor sleep in these patients is also secondary to psychological problems. The use of PSQI in such patients represents a useful tool for the investigation of SQ and quality of life.
Sabbatini
Massimo
M
Division of Nephrology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. sabbatin@unina.it
Crispo
Anna
A
Pisani
Antonio
A
Gallo
Riccardo
R
Cianciaruso
Bruno
B
Fuiano
Giorgio
G
Federico
Stefano
S
Andreucci
Vittorio E
VE
D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*