Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2010 Mar;39(3):535-47.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.07.004. Epub 2010 Jan 18.

Prevalence, severity, and correlates of sleep-wake disturbances in long-term breast cancer survivors

Julie L Otte  1 , Janet S Carpenter, Kathleen M Russell, Silvia Bigatti, Victoria L Champion
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Prevalence, severity, and correlates of sleep-wake disturbances in long-term breast cancer survivors

Julie L Otte et al. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Context: 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.

Objectives: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2008. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58:71–96. - PubMed
    1. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Cancer survivorship-United States, 1971–2001. Atlanta: CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; 2004.
    1. Berger A. Reducing negative health outcomes related to sleep-wake disturbances in people with cancer. Presented at 10th National Nursing Conference on Cancer Nursing Research; Orlando, Florida. 2009.
    1. Beck SL, Schwartz AL, Towsley G, Dudley W, Barsevick A. Psychometric evaluation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2004;27:140–148. - PubMed
    1. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28:193–213. - PubMed

Publication types