Chronic sleep disorders in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep disruption is well recognized in the Intensive Care Unit. Poor sleep quality likely continues following discharge from hospital in several patients and becomes a chronic disorder in some. The aim of this study was to describe the etiology of chronic sleep complaints in survivors of ARDS.


METHODS
Seven ARDS survivors with no previous sleep complaints who reported difficulty sleeping 6 months or more following discharge from hospital were evaluated. Sleep quality was assessed subjectively with a sleep history and the Insomnia Severity Index and objectively with polysomnography. Daytime sleepiness was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.


RESULTS
A chronic sleep disorder was identified in each patient who reported difficulty sleeping. The primary sleep disorder was chronic conditioned insomnia (5 patients), parasomnia (1 patient) and obstructive sleep apnea (1 patient). In addition, 4 patients had periodic leg movements, which was of uncertain clinical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic sleep disorders, which originate during the acute illness, are present in some ARDS survivors several months after discharge from hospital. If unrecognized, lack of treatment may contribute to impaired quality of life and incomplete rehabilitation from their critical illness.
Lee
Christie M
CM
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Herridge
Margaret S
MS
Gabor
Jonathan Y
JY
Tansey
Catherine M
CM
Matte
Andrea
A
Hanly
Patrick J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult