Exploring the Burden of Sleep Disorders on Daily Functioning and Well-Being in Hemodialysis and Post kidney Transplant Patients

Abstract

Background: Sleep disorders are widely recognized as common in people with end-stage kidney disease and may persist following kidney transplant affecting physical functioning, emotional well-being and general quality of life. This paper examined the prevalence of sleep disorders among hemodialysis patients and those patients who, after receiving kidney transplant treatment, were treated at tertiary care hospitals.

Methods: The pilot study was a cross-sectional study that took place among twenty adult participants (n = 20): ten on maintenance hemodialysis and ten following kidney transplantation. To determine sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and day-to-day functioning and well-being standardized tools were used such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and brief functioning and well-being KDQOL domains questionnaire. Medical records were used to retrieve clinical and demographic data.

Findings: The quality of sleep in hemodialysis patients was found to be poorer and the scores of ESS were higher than those of the post-transplant patients. Sleep problems were closely related to poor energy levels, inability to concentrate, and difficulty carrying out regular duties across the sample. Despite the improvement in the sleep parameters of post-transplant patients, two patients still had clinically significant disturbances that affected the psychosocial well-being.

Conclusion: Within this small pilot sample, there was a prevalence and clinically significant sleep disturbances in both the hemodialysis and post-transplant groups. Timely diagnosis and intervention can be useful in enhancing functioning and well-being throughout the renewal replacement therapy system.