New-onset insomnia among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: prevalence, risk factors, and its correlation with other symptoms

• Published in: Sleep & breathing 2020-03, Vol.24 (1), p.241-251
• Main Authors: Hoang, Huong Thi Xuan, Molassiotis, Alex, Chan, Choi Wan, Nguyen, Thi Huong, Liep Nguyen, Van
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actigraphy; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - chemically induced; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Correlation of Data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Depressive Disorder - chemically induced; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Female; Humans; Insomnia; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - psychology; Neurology; Otorhinolaryngology; Patients; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Polysomnography; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Risk Factors; Sleep; Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article; Sleep disorders; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - chemically induced; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; Syndrome
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-019-01839-x

Study objectives Although insomnia is common among cancer patients, its prevalence remains variable, and its risk factors and correlation with other cancer-related symptoms are not fully explored in the literature. This study aims to determine the prevalence and severity of insomnia as well as risk factors and sleep-related symptom clusters in a sample of cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted collecting data from 213 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (age = 53.1 ± 11.3 years, 60% female). Insomnia was measured using the Insomnia Severity Index, a sleep log, and Actigraph, while symptoms were assessed using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Quality of life was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General. Results Of the participants, 42.8% reported insomnia, with 31.9% of those with insomnia reporting severe insomnia. Insomnia occurrence and severity were not correlated with the participants’ characteristics, cancer-related or treatment-related factors, only with the participants’ anxiety/depression scores. Principal component analysis showed that insomnia, depression, and anxiety formed a symptom cluster ( p