What are the sleep characteristics among early kidney transplant recipients? An objective and subjective measurement from China.

Abstract

To evaluate the sleep quality by self-reported questionnaires and polysomnography (PSG) among early kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and to further explore their correlation. This was a prospective and cross-sectional analysis of the sleep characteristics among early kidney transplant recipients through an objective and subjective measurement. Patients with end stage renal disease on the transplant waiting list and after kidney transplantation were from a major organ transplantation center in Southern China (n = 83). Objective outcomes: PSG, noise and light. Subjective outcomes: demographic and clinical questionnaires, self-reported pain and Richards Campbell sleep questionnaire (RCSQ). After agreement with the informed consent, participants first completed demographic and clinical questionnaires, then worn the PSG within 5-10 days after kidney transplantation. Both noise, light and self-reported pain were monitored during sleep. After completion of PSG, the RCSQs were filled out next morning. A total of 298 patients were recruited and 83 participants were finally analyzed. The total RCSQ mean score was 51.0±18.9mm. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among early KTRs was 45.1%. Most of PSG characteristics were significantly correlated with their corresponding RCSQ items. And the total RCSQ scores were significantly correlated with the number of awakenings, the N2 percentage and the total sleep time (r = 0.79, 0.47 and 0.40, P<0.05) respectively. Noise was a statistically significant factor affecting the subjective sleep quality. The sleep quality in early KTRs measured by both PSG and RCSQ exhibits consistency with each other. Sleep disruption always remains a substantial problem and is affected by self-reported noise among early KTRs. The RCSQ is easily applicable and interpretable so that it can be used for future daily clinical practice.