Most Individuals With Advanced Cirrhosis Have Sleep Disturbances, Which Are Associated With Poor Quality of Life.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep disturbances are common in patients with cirrhosis, but their determinants and effects on health-related quality of life are not well-understood. We investigated the prevalence of disturbed sleep in these patients, factors associated with sleep disruption, and effects on quality of life.


METHODS
We performed a prospective, cross-sectional study of 193 stable ambulatory patients with cirrhosis (154 with decompensated cirrhosis). Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (to assess sleep quality), the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and muscle cramp questionnaires and underwent neurocognitive testing. Actigraphy was performed in a subset of patients with normal and disturbed sleep. We collected serum samples from subjects with normal and disturbed sleep and performed non-targeted metabolomic analyses.


RESULTS
Of the study subjects, 157 (81%) had disturbed sleep, with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores >5. Disturbed sleep was associated with muscle cramps, daytime somnolence, and decreased quality of life on the basis of CLDQ scores. Factors independently associated with disturbed sleep in logistic regression analysis included hypoalbuminemia, opiate therapy, and muscle cramps. Disturbed sleep was independently associated with CLDQ score (correlation parameter, -36.6; 95% confidence interval, -24 to -49; P < .001) on linear regression. Disturbed sleep was associated with neurocognitive impairment and with significantly delayed bedtime and decreased total sleep time, measured by actigraphy. Disturbed sleep was associated with metabolome signatures of alterations to the intestinal microbiome and lipid, arginine, and urea cycle metabolism.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with advanced cirrhosis (81%) have disturbed sleep. This has negative effects on quality of life and is associated with disruptions of several metabolic pathways, including metabolism by the intestinal microbiota.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address: mghabril@iu.edu.
Marwan
M
Ghabril
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mollie
M
Jackson
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Raghavender
R
Gotur
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Regina
R
Weber
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Eric
E
Orman
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Raj
R
Vuppalanchi
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Naga
N
Chalasani
D056044:Actigraphy; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Actigraphy; CLDQ; Metabolome; PSQI