Quality of sleep in individuals with systemic sclerosis and its correlation with functional disability and quality of life: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of sleep in individuals with systemic sclerosis and its correlation with the quality of life and disability. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, carried out in a tertiary service of a university hospital. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of systemic sclerosis according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2013 or the preliminary criteria of the American College of Rheumatology 1980, age ≥ 18 years; regularly monitored at the outpatient clinic of rheumatology. Clinical and demographic data of the patients were obtained through a structured interview and evaluation of the medical records. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, quality of life using 12-item short-form health survey, and disability using the scleroderma health assessment questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with systemic sclerosis were included, with 92% female, mean age 48.9 years, mean disease duration 8.9 years, and 60% limited cutaneous form. Most systemic sclerosis patients (84%) have poor sleep quality and 20% have excessive daytime sleepiness. There was a significant negative correlation between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the physical and mental components of the 12-item short-form health survey (r=-0.42, p=0.003 and r=-0.43, p=0.002, respectively) and a positive correlation with the scleroderma health assessment questionnaire (r=0.52, p=<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that poor sleep quality is a very common finding among systemic sclerosis patients, and it negatively affects both the quality of life and the degree of disability. Sleep quality is an unmet need in patients with systemic sclerosis Poor sleep quality is very common in patients with systemic sclerosis Poor sleep quality correlated with worse quality of life and greater disability.

Acupuncture for the treatment of the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance-numbness/tingling symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors: a feasibility trial.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer survivors following disease-modifying treatment frequently experience multiple-concurrent symptoms (Jansana et al. in Int J Cancer 149(10):1755 1767, 2021), negatively impacting their quality of life and increasing the risk of polypharmacy (Alwhaibi et al. in J Oncol Pharm Pract 26(5):1052 1059, 2020). This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture for the management of the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance-numbness/tingling symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors, and investigates relationships between the symptom cluster and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome diagnosis. METHODS: This was a single-arm, pre-test/post-test feasibility trial conducted at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Hospital, Australia. Breast cancer survivors who completed treatment and experienced clinically significant levels of two or more symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, numbness/tingling) were eligible to participate in the individualized, pragmatic 6-week acupuncture intervention. The primary outcome was feasibility and acceptability. Effectiveness was explored using a symptom cluster mean score. RESULTS: Twenty women enrolled in the study over an 11-week period and 90% completed the study. Most women agreed or completely agreed that acupuncture was feasible (85%), acceptable (90%), and appropriate (90%). Both mean and composite symptom cluster scores were significantly reduced (p < 0.001), as were individual symptom scores in fatigue (p < 0.001), sleep disturbance (p = 0.04), and numbness/tingling (p = 0.01). TCM syndromes most closely associated with this symptom cluster were Spleen qi deficiency and Heart fire. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that acupuncture was safe and feasible, justifying a powered randomized control trial. Preliminary findings suggest beneficial effects of acupuncture for the management of the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance-numbness/tingling symptom cluster for women with breast cancer. TCM syndromes identified in this trial may be used to guide acupuncture treatment protocols. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000590763) on 21 April 2022.

Prospective Bidirectional Relationship Between Sleep Duration and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms After Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbance is a "hallmark" symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Poor sleep (including short sleep) after combat-related trauma can also predict subsequent PTSD. Less is known about the association between sleep duration and PTSD symptoms when PTSD is induced by acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We examined the bidirectional relationship between sleep duration and PTSD symptoms over the year after hospital evaluation for ACS. METHODS: Participants were enrolled in this observational study after emergency department evaluation for ACS. Sleep duration ("During the past month, how many hours of actual sleep did you get at night?") and cardiac event or hospitalization-induced PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist) were assessed at 1, 6, and 12 months after hospital discharge. Cross-lagged path analysis was used to model the effects of sleep duration and PTSD symptoms on each other. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, cardiac severity, baseline depression symptoms, and early acute stress disorder symptoms. RESULTS: The sample included 1145 participants; 16% screened positive for probable PTSD (PTSD Checklist score ≥33). Mean sleep duration across time points was 6.1 hours. Higher PTSD symptoms predicted shorter sleep duration at the next time point (i.e., 1-6 and 6-12 months; B = -0.14 hours/10-point difference, SE = 0.03, p < .001). Shorter sleep duration was associated with higher PTSD symptoms at the next time point (B = -0.25 points/hour, SE = 0.12, p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep duration and PTSD symptoms are mutually reinforcing across the first year after ACS evaluation. Findings suggest that sleep, PTSD symptoms, and their relationship should be considered in the post-ACS period.

Associations of Nightmares and Sleep Disturbance With Neurobehavioral Symptoms Postconcussion.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the association of nightmares beyond general sleep disturbance on neurobehavioral symptoms in adults with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a concussion cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eleven adults older than 20 years with mTBI were recruited from a specialized concussion treatment center. MAIN MEASURES: Behavioral Assessment Screening Tool, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and self-report of nightmare frequency in the past 2 weeks. RESULTS: Among adults with mTBI, nightmares accounted for the greatest amount of variability in negative affect (ß = .362, P < .001), anxiety (ß = .332, P < .001), and impulsivity (ß = .270, P < .001) after adjusting for age and sex. Overall sleep disturbance had the strongest association with depression (ß = .493, P < .001), fatigue (ß = .449, P < .001), self-reported executive dysfunction (ß = .376, P < .001), and overall burden from concussive symptoms (ß = .477, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Nightmares and sleep disturbance are differentially associated with variance in neurobehavioral symptoms. Nightmares were independently associated with neurobehavioral symptoms representing an excess of normal functioning (eg, anxiety, impulsivity), while general sleep disturbance was associated with neurobehavioral symptoms representing functioning below normal levels (eg, depression, fatigue, self-reported executive dysfunction). Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

Cognitive symptoms and sleep disturbance (SD) are common non-mood-related symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). In clinical practice, both cognitive symptoms and SD are related to MDD progression. However, there are only a few studies investigating the connection between cognitive symptoms and SD in patients with MDD, and only preliminary evidence suggests a significant association between cognitive symptoms and SD in patients with mood disorders. This study investigates the relationship between cognitive symptoms and sleep quality in patients with major depressive disorder. Patients (n = 20) with MDD were enrolled; their mean Hamilton Depression Scale-17 score was 21.95 (±2.76). Gold standard polysomnography (PSG) was used to assess sleep quality, and the validated THINC-integrated tool (the cognitive screening tool) was used to evaluate cognitive function in MDD patients. Overall, the results showed significant correlations between the cognitive screening tool's total score and sleep latency, wake-after-sleep onset, and sleep efficiency. These findings indicate that cognitive symptoms are associated with poor sleep quality among patients with MDD.

Multidisciplinary analysis of cancer-related fatigue at the time of diagnosis: preliminary results of the BIOCARE FActory cohort.

PURPOSE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment that significantly impairs the quality of life and can persist for years after treatment completion. Although fatigue is often associated with cancer treatment, it is also a result of the disease itself, even before intervention. CRF at the time of diagnosis may affect treatment timing or completion and is a consistent predictor of post-treatment fatigue at any time. The mechanisms underlying CRF are multidimensional and not well understood, particularly at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: Sixty-five breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis were included. The participants completed self-assessment questionnaires about CRF, sleep disturbances, and emotional symptoms and wore an accelerometer to assess levels of spontaneous physical activity and sleep quality. During the experimental session, the participants underwent cognitive, neuromuscular, and exercise metabolism evaluations. RESULTS: Using augmented backward elimination regression, this study found that emotional symptoms and perceived sleep disturbances were the strongest predictors of CRF (adjusted r2 = 0.51). Neuromuscular fatigability and sleep disturbance were also associated with physical dimensions, whereas cognitive performance was associated with cognitive dimensions. CONCLUSION: At the time of diagnosis, emotional and cognitive dimensions are over-represented compared to the general population, and specific subdimensions have specific predictors that support the idea of distinct mechanisms. Evaluating CRF subdimensions and their potential mechanisms at the time of diagnosis would be particularly relevant for identifying high-risk patients and offering them appropriate interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04391543) in May, 2020.

Evaluation of risk factors related to sleep disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis using a nomogram model.

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors related to sleep disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis using a nomogram model. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a hospital in Zhejiang province, China from January 1, 2020, to November 31, 2022 among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Dietary intake was assessed applying a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Evaluation of risk factors related to sleep disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis was using a nomogram model. This study included 201 patients and 87 individuals (43.3%, 87/201) exhibited sleep disorders. The average age of included patients was 51.1 ±â€…9.0 years, with males accounting for 55.7% (112/201). Results from nomogram model exhibited that potential risk factors for sleep disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis included female, advanced age, increased creatinine and alanine aminotransferase levels, as well as higher red meat consumption. Inversely, protective factors against sleep disorders in these patients included higher consumption of poultry, fish, vegetables, and dietary fiber. The C-index demonstrated a high level of discriminative ability (0.922). This study found that age, sex, and dietary factors were associated with sleep disorders in hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients with sleep disorders require urgent dietary guidance.

Comparing symptom clusters in cancer survivors by cancer diagnosis: A latent class profile analysis.

PURPOSE: Research on symptom clusters in oncology is progressing, but knowledge gaps remain. One question is whether the number and types of symptom subgroups (i.e., latent classes) differ based on cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify and compare latent class subgroups based on four highly prevalent symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression), and (2) examine the differences in sociodemographic and clinical factors in the identified latent classes across the seven cancer types (i.e., prostate, non-small cell lung, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, uterine, cervical, and colorectal cancer). METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data obtained from the My-Health study in partnership with four Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries located in California (two), Louisiana, and New Jersey. The sample included 4,762 cancer survivors 6-13 months following diagnosis of one of the seven cancer types mentioned. Latent class profile analysis was used. RESULTS: Subjects were primarily young (59% age 21-64 years), Caucasian (41%), married/cohabitating (58%) and unemployed (55%). The number and types of symptom subgroups varied across these seven cancer populations: four-subgroups were the common in prostate, lung, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and breast cancer survivors. Unmarried, low education, and unemployment status were associated with high risk of symptom burden across the cancer types. CONCLUSION: Identifying symptom subgroups by cancer diagnosis has the potential to develop innovative and effective targeted interventions in cancer survivors. Further research is needed to establish extensive knowledge in symptom clustering between treatment regimens, and short-term and long-term cancer survivors.

Stress and Coping in Patients With Cancer With Depression and Sleep Disturbance.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate for differences in global, cancer-specific, and cumulative life stress, as well as resilience and use of various coping strategies among five groups (no depression or sleep disturbance, no depression and moderate sleep disturbance, subsyndromal depression and very high sleep disturbance, moderate depression and moderate sleep disturbance [Both Moderate]; and high depression and very high sleep disturbance [Both High]). SAMPLE & SETTING: Patients (N = 1,331) receiving chemotherapy were recruited from outpatient oncology clinics. METHODS & VARIABLES: Measures of global, cancer-specific, and cumulative life stress, resilience, and coping were obtained. Differences were evaluated using parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Global and cancer-specific stress scores increased as joint profiles worsened. Both Moderate and Both High classes had cancer-specific stress scores suggestive of post-traumatic stress. Both Moderate and Both High classes reported higher occurrence rates for several stressful life events and higher use of disengagement coping. Both Moderate and Both High classes had resilience scores below the normative score for the United States. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Clinicians need to screen vulnerable patients for post-traumatic stress disorder and implement interventions to reduce stress.

Effects of resistance training on sleep quality and disorders among individuals diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are often complained by cancer patients and can last years after the end of therapies, leading to different negative consequences. Non-pharmacological strategies such as exercise interventions may be considered to counteract this phenomenon. The literature supports the beneficial effects of aerobic training (AT), while evidence on resistance training (RT) is scarce. Accordingly, our systematic review aims to investigate the potential novel effect of RT on sleep outcomes in cancer survivors. METHODS: The literature search was conducted on MEDLINE (Pubmed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The screening procedure was conducted using the web-based software COVIDENCE. Sleep outcomes assessed through self-reported questionnaires or objective sleep measurements were extracted from RCTs recruiting cancer survivors of any age and gender, on or off treatment. The risk of bias (RoB) for each study was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for RCTs. Meta-analytic syntheses were performed on sleep quality and insomnia. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included in the review. Considering the mean percentage differences of all studies combined, promising positive results were found after combined aerobic and resistance exercise program (COMB) for sleep quality (-19%) and sleep disturbance (-17.3%). The meta-analysis results showed significant improvement for both sleep quality and insomnia (d = 0.28, SE: 0.11, Z = 2.51, p < 0.01, 95% CI: 0.07-0.49 and d = 0.43, SE: 0.20, Z = 2.18, p = 0.029, 95% CI: 0.07-0.49, respectively). CONCLUSION: RT interventions of 60 minutes per session, performed 2-3 times a week for 12 weeks, with exercise intensity ranging from 60% to 80% of one-repetition maximum can be administered to cancer survivors, aiming to improve sleep outcomes.

Poor Sleep Quality in Jamaican Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Association With Quality of Life.

Poor sleep and chronic illnesses have a bidirectional relationship where presence of one can worsen the other. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with significant morbidity and early mortality. In this study, we examine sleep quality, its predictors, and its association with quality of life in Jamaican adults with SCD. This cross-sectional study evaluated 177 well adult SCD patients for sleep quality using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and quality of life using the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement Information System (ASCQ-Me). Multiple linear regression models examined the predictors of poor sleep quality. The mean global PSQI score was 6.9 (SD 4.2) with 56.5% having poor sleep quality. Women had significantly worse scores for sleep efficiency (p 0.005), sleep latency (p 0.03) and higher use of sleeping medications (p 0.02). Those overweight/obese had significantly worse subjective sleep quality (p 0.001) and sleep efficiency (p 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, overweight individuals had poorer sleep quality (OR: 2.9; 95% C.I.: 1.07, 7.88) than those with normal weight whereas those unemployed and looking for a job had lower prevalence of poor sleep quality (OR 0.2; 95% C.I.: 0.05, 0.77) compared to employed individuals. Participants with good sleep quality had significantly better functioning in all 5 domains of the ASCQ-Me. In conclusion, persons with SCD who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of poor sleep which can negatively affect quality of life. Patient populations and healthcare providers will need to manage the emerging burden of overweight/obesity.

[Results of a pilot study of the structure and evaluation of the therapy for chronic sleep disorders in comorbid patients with chronic cerebral ischemia]. / Rezul'taty pilotnogo issledovaniya struktury i otsenki terapii khronicheskikh narushenii sna u komorbidnykh patsientov s khronicheskoi ishemiei golovnogo mozga.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the drug Cortexin on the clinical course and treatment of comorbid insomnia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 50 patients, average age 50.4±2.26 years, with CHI stage 1-2. with concomitant diseases arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus (study CHRONAS). All patients were examined on the day of treatment, 11-15 days and 30-31 days after the end of therapy. At all visits, complaints, neurological status, and changes in physiological and laboratory parameters were assessed. The condition was assessed using the following scales: mental status assessment (MMSE), quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D), assessment of general health, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth daytime sleepiness assessment, hospital anxiety and depression (HADS)).: Patients with additional diabetic polyneuropathy were assessed using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). RESULTS: A high percentage of the prevalence of comorbid insomnia in patients was revealed. The structure of sleep disturbances in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia consisted of disturbances in sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings at night, and daytime sleepiness. After treatment, there was a regression of the main complaints, the severity of symptoms, including anxiety and depression, decreased, and a significant stabilization of cognitive status was observed. The positive dynamics persisted 1 month after the end of therapy. An additional normalizing effect of the drug on a number of biochemical parameters was revealed. Clinical dynamics were recorded already by the 11-15th day of treatment and persisted for up to 1 month. During observation, no patient had adverse drug interactions with other drugs (hypotensives, antiplatelet agents, statins). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effectiveness of the drug Cortexin has been proven for all types of sleep disorders. The clinical effectiveness of the drug Cortexin at a dose of 10 mg IM for 10 days has been proven in patients with chronic sleep disorders due to CHI.

Assessment of Sleep Disorders in Patients with CVID.

Inborn errors of immunity have been associated with reduced health-related quality of life and increased fatigue. Sleep disorders, which have been shown to contribute to fatigue and other health concerns, are prevalent in the general population, but there are limited studies evaluating these conditions in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and sleep-disordered breathing in adults with CVID. Patients completed 4 validated, self-administered questionnaires and a 1-night disposable home sleep apnea test. Our results demonstrated increased median Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue scores of 58.7 in patients with CVID in addition to clinically significant fatigue as measured by Fatigue Severity Scale score (median, 5.2) and overall poor sleep quality based on global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (median, 9.0). For CVID patients who completed the home sleep apnea test, 76.9% met criteria for sleep-disordered breathing with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index score of 5 or greater. The results of our study indicate that patients with CVID may have increased rates of undiagnosed sleep disorders that may contribute to increased fatigue and reduced health-related quality of life.

A cross-sectional study of sleep disturbance among middle-aged cancer patients at Vietnam National Cancer Hospital.

AIM: Sleep disorders are common in cancer patients and have negative consequences for patient well-being and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to investigate sleep quality and related factors in Vietnamese middle-aged cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 246 middle-aged in-patient cancer patients at Vietnam National Cancer Hospital (VNCH) from 1/2021 to 7/2021. Sleep was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with a cutoff of 5. RESULTS: The results showed a male/female ratio of 0.85 with an average age of 52. The five most prevalent cancer types were breast, colorectal, lung, and esophagus-stomach cancer, primarily in the late stage and treated with chemotherapy. The prevalence of sleep disturbances was 58.5%. The mean PSQI score was 7.5, with sleep duration and latency of 5.4 h and 1 h, respectively. Approximately 44% of participants reported poor sleep quality, nearly 9% had daytime dysfunction, and 10.6% used sleep medication. The multivariate logistic regression results indicate that people with depression were 8.89 times more likely to have poor sleep than those without depression (95% CI:2.63-28.27, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Sleep problems are common among middle-aged people with cancer in Vietnam, especially individuals with depression. It is necessary to have more effective approaches to sleep management for cancer patients with limited resources.

The potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for addressing sleep difficulties in children with autism - A brief communication.

Sleep difficulties can co-occur with autistic traits and have been frequently reported in children diagnosed with autism. Thus, sleep difficulties may impact neural development, cognition, and behavioural functioning in children with autism. Interventions, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), that target aberrant neural structures underpinning autistic traits and sleep difficulties in children could have beneficial effects. The rTMS effects on the pathophysiological pathways hypothesised to underpin autism and sleep difficulties are well-established in the literature; however, clinical evidence of its potential to improve sleep difficulties in children with autism is limited. While the preliminary data is promising, further robust rTMS studies are warranted to encourage its use in clinical practices.

Meal related symptoms in youth with chronic abdominal pain: Relationship to anxiety, depression, and sleep dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to describe meal-related symptoms in youth with chronic abdominal pain fulfilling criteria for a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and their associations with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of 226 consecutive patients diagnosed with an abdominal pain-associated DGBI. As part of routine care, all had completed a standardized symptom history, the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children (utilized to assess for disorders of initiation and maintenance of sleep and excessive daytime somnolence) and the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition (utilized to assess for anxiety and depression). Four meal related symptoms were assessed: early satiety, postprandial bloating, postprandial abdominal pain, and postprandial nausea. RESULTS: Overall, 87.6% of patients reported at least one meal related symptom and the majority reported at least three symptoms. All meal related symptoms were significantly related to each other. Postprandial pain and nausea were more often reported by females. Early satiety, postprandial bloating, and postprandial nausea, but not postprandial pain demonstrated significant though variable associations with anxiety, depression, disorders of initiation and maintenance of sleep, and disorders of excessive somnolence, but only in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Meal related symptoms are very common in youth with abdominal pain-associated DGBIs. Early satiety, bloating, and postprandial nausea demonstrate variable associations with anxiety, depression, and disordered sleep while increased postprandial pain was not associated with psychologic or sleep dysfunction, suggesting a different pathway for symptom generation.

Mediating effects of sleep quality between clinical characteristics and quality of life in children with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study from Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Although sleep quality (SQ) reportedly affects the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with epilepsy, little is known about the potential association between SQ and QOL, particularly in children with epilepsy (CWE). Our study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of SQ on the QOL of CWE to obtain more information for the prevention and treatment of epilepsy in children. METHODS: We collected general demographic and clinical data of 212 CWE and 79 controls (children who visited the Health Examination Department), and their guardians were instructed to answer the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the optimized Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire-16 (QOLCE-16). The t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used for between group comparisons. The Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between variables. The direct, indirect, and total effects of predictors on the QOL of CWE were estimated based on an adjusted mediation model. RESULTS: CWE had significantly smaller long-term urban residence rates, less educated guardians, higher total CSHQ score, higher incidence of poor SQ, higher bedtime resistance, more sleep anxiety, worse sleep-disordered breathing, increased parasomnia, more daytime sleepiness, more frequent night waking, and greater sleep onset delay than controls (P < 0.05 for all). The univariable analysis showed significant differences in total CSHQ scores between CWE with different seizure frequency in the last month, whether or not drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), and with different video electroencephalogram (VEEG) findings (P < 0.05 for all). Differences in QOLCE-16 scores between CWE with different guardian's employment status, age at diagnosis, number of anti-seizure medication (ASM) types, seizure frequency in the last month, DRE status, seizure type, VEEG findings, neuropsychological evaluation findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and etiology were statistically significant (P < 0.05 for all). The correlation study indicated that the total CSHQ score was negatively correlated with the QOLCE-16 score (P < 0.05). The mediation analysis showed that DRE and VEEG abnormalities had a standardized direct effect on the QOL. Seizure frequency in the last month, DRE, and VEEG abnormalities had an indirect effect on the QOL through SQ, and their mediating effect values of SQ were 31.61 %, 13.45 %, and 14.35 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings uncovered the relationship of some clinical characteristics with SQ and QOL and characterized the nature of factors affecting the QOL of CWE. SQ could be a key factor in the prognosis of CWE experiencing epileptic seizures, and more attention should be paid on the management of SQ in interventions for epilepsy.

The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercises (PMRE) on sleep quality in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and experiencing disturbed sleep. METHODS: The prospective randomized controlled study was conducted between March and September 2022 with 69 patients (intervention group: 34 patients, control group: 35 patients) in a hospital chemotherapy unit. During the data collection process, the "Personal Information Form" and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)" were utilized. Patients in the intervention group performed PMRE twice a day for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group received routine care at the clinic without additional intervention. For data analysis, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test were used. RESULTS: The sociodemographic attributes of patients within both the intervention and control groups exhibited comparability. However, notable distinctions emerged in the PSQI Global sleep score and PSQI subdimension scores, encompassing sleep latency and duration, subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, and daytime dysfunction between the two groups. The study found a notable difference in scores between the patients in the intervention group and those in the control group. The patients who received the intervention had significantly lower scores (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that PMRE was beneficial in improving sleep quality in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who had poor sleep quality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses may consider using PMRE to improve the sleep quality of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.