Abstract
ObjectiveWe aimed to measure prevalence of sleep disturbance in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) by calculating Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and compare these data with patients with benign thyroid nodules or normal participants.MethodsThree groups of patients participated in this cross-sectional study. In the first group, 162 patients with DTC received total thyroidectomy, and then 131I therapy. The second group consisted of 84 patients with benign thyroid nodules, who received partial thyroidectomy. The third group was 78 normal healthy control cases. PSQI was used to assess the sleep quality. Inter-group differences were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test or independent samples T test. χ2 test was also used to check prevalence differences of poor sleep quality among the groups. Differences of PSQI score and poor sleep quality prevalence before and after 131I therapy in the same group of DTC participants were analyzed by paired T test and Mcnemar's test.ResultsHigher PSQI score (7.59 ± 4.21) and higher rate of poor sleep quality (54.32%) were shown in DTC patients than in any other group. After 131I therapy, PSQI score and prevalence of poor sleep quality in DTC patients increased significantly to 8.78 ± 4.72 and 70.99%. Then DTC patients were divided into two subgroups based on their metastatic status. DTC patients with metastasis (87/162 cases, 53.70%) had significantly higher PSQI score (10.87 ± 5.18) and higher prevalence of poor sleep quality (79.31%).ConclusionDTC patients suffer from sleep disturbance, 131I therapy and awareness of metastatic status could worsen sleep problem. Psychological fear of cancer, nuclear medicine therapy and metastasis could be one major underlying reason. Longitude and interventional studies are necessary for further investigations.
Highlights
Sleep quality is an important factor that affects the quality of life in cancer patients [1]
differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients were divided into two subgroups based on their metastatic status
DTC patients suffer from sleep disturbance, 131I therapy and awareness of metastatic status could worsen sleep problem
Summary
Sleep quality is an important factor that affects the quality of life in cancer patients [1]. Prevalence of sleep disturbances among patients with cancer is at least twice the rate found in the general population [3]. Patients with cancer are at high risk for poor sleep quality due to the physiological and psychological stressors associated with the disease and its treatments [4,5,6,7]. To minimize the risk of disease recurrence and metastatic spread, adequate surgery and 131I ablative therapy are the most important treatments for the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) [9]. We do not retrieve any previous literature investigating sleep quality of patients with DTC. This study was designed to (1) calculate Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and measure the prevalence of sleep disturbance in patients with DTC, and (2) make comparisons of PSQI score and poor sleep quality prevalence between patients with DTC and patients with benign thyroid nodules, or healthy individuals
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
