title: Prevalence, severity, and correlates of sleep-wake disturbances in long-term breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current evidence shows that sleep-wake disturbances are a persistent problem linked to poor quality of life in women surviving breast cancer. Information regarding correlates of sleep-wake disturbances in long-term survivors is sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to refine knowledge regarding prevalence, severity, and correlates of sleep-wake disturbances in long-term breast cancer survivors (BCS) compared with age-matched women without breast cancer (WWC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional convenience sample included 246 BCS and 246 WWC who completed a quality-of-life study and were matched within +/-5 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BCS were a mean of 5.6 years beyond completion of cancer treatment (range = 5.6-10.0 years). Based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, BCS had significantly more prevalent sleep-wake disturbances (65%) compared with WWC (55%) (P < 0.05). BCS also had significantly higher PSQI global scores indicating poorer sleep quality compared with WWC (P < 0.05). Significant correlates of prevalence of poor sleep for BCS included hot flashes, poor physical functioning, depressive symptoms, and distress, and for WWC, these included hot flashes, poor physical functioning, and depressive symptoms. Significant correlates (P < 0.05) of severity of poor sleep for BCS included presence of noncancer comorbidities, hot flashes, depressive symptoms, and residual effects of cancer treatment. For WWC, these included hot flashes, poor physical functioning, depressive symptoms, and impact of a life event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of prevalence, severity, and correlates of sleep-wake disturbances provides useful information to health care providers during clinical evaluations for treatment of sleep-wake disturbances in BCS.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Research, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. jlelam@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bigatti
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Champion
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*